Diary of a Grumpy Old Geek: Jony Ive and Gadgets

Dear diary, I have a complaint to make. I’ve started to realize that I’m living in unexpectedly interesting times – so much so that what feels relevant today will soon become just a pleasant memory amid the constant flood of new technology. I’m disappointed in Jony Ive, yet at the same time, I can’t help but admire him.

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Jony Ive is “saving humanity” again – this time, from smartphones

Jony Ive – the legendary Apple designer who once convinced the world that aluminum unibody cases represented the peak of evolution – is now trying to “reimagine technology” together with OpenAI. Reportedly, they’re working on an innovative AI-powered device. For now, though, that device exists only in interviews and ambitions – no one has actually seen a prototype yet.

Naturally, a revolution has been promised: a gadget that will “change the way people interact with technology.” It’s supposed to free us from our dependence on smartphones, screens, and endless notifications. Finally – a device designed to help us stop using devices.

It sounds almost utopian: less informational noise, more “calm, natural, and pleasant interaction.” In other words, perhaps it simply turns itself off.

At OpenAI’s developer conference in San Francisco, Jony Ive – the man who once turned smartphones into cultural icons – now insists they’ve become a social problem. Those same glossy screens we stare at for hours are, according to him, “a serious social issue.”

So Ive, together with OpenAI, has decided to “rethink technology” once again – this time for the sake of our psychological well-being. The next generation of AI-driven devices, he claims, will make people happier, calmer, and perhaps even save them from existential despair.

The new products, they say, will be “completely different from the iPhone.” Finally – a gadget without a screen, without light, without ringtones, and without constant notifications. Something between a companion and a paperweight.

Ive and his team are reportedly exploring 15 to 20 different AI device concepts. Their goal is to “redefine the relationship between people and technology” – the very relationship Ive himself helped create two decades ago.

The new hardware, they promise, will be harmonious, intuitive, simple, and, of course, designed to deliver a “positive user experience.” These devices are meant to feel “like a friend, not just another thing to tap on.” In other words, it’s less of a gadget and more of a Wi-Fi-enabled Buddha.

OpenAI buys Jony Ive’s startup for $6.5 billion – because who else will save us from screens?

In May, OpenAI acquired Ive’s startup, io, for a modest $6.5 billion. For that amount, one could probably buy a few small countries – or at least bring Twitter back to its senses – but instead, the money is going toward developing a “family of AI-powered devices.” The details are, of course, classified. As always, that usually means nothing is ready yet.

The project is expected to result in a screenless gadget that responds to its surroundings and the user’s mood. In other words, finally, a device you don’t have to poke – it will supposedly understand everything on its own. Perhaps even when you just want silence, it might respond: “I understand, my friend.”

The team is reportedly “working hard” to make the device “always on, yet unobtrusive.” In other words, an electronic stalker with good manners. The challenge lies in giving it a sense of “personality” – one that isn’t overly irritating – while also ensuring it doesn’t share your personal data with everyone else.

Because of these minor complications, such as privacy concerns and ethical dilemmas, the release of this miracle device has been pushed back to 2026. After all, saving humanity from smartphones is not exactly a quick process.

Jony Ive and his new-old design philosophy

Jony Ive wants his new hardware to be “obvious to use.” Sounds familiar? Yes – it’s the very same philosophy that once made Apple the church of minimalism: everything so simple, you’re not even sure why you paid a thousand dollars for it.

But this time, there’s no chase for status or “premium experience.” Ive now aims to create gadgets that bring “joy, self-fulfillment, and reduce stress.” Finally – technology that promises to relieve the anxiety it helped create in the first place.

Ive explains that the devices of the future shouldn’t just be tools for boosting productivity – they should “improve users’ quality of life and mental well-being.” Because who wouldn’t want yet another Wi-Fi-enabled gadget to solve problems that used to require nothing more than a walk or a good night’s sleep?

It’s undeniably a “decisive shift” from Silicon Valley’s obsession with endless notifications, KPIs, and hyper-productivity. Still, knowing the industry, I wouldn’t be surprised if this new device ends up tracking your stress levels – just to sell you a Stress Reduction Pro+ subscription later.

Read also:

Diary of a Grumpy Old Geek: Jony Ive and Gadgets

Jony Ive is “saving humanity” again – this time, from smartphones

OpenAI buys Jony Ive’s startup for $6.5 billion – because who else will save us from screens?

Jony Ive and his new-old design philosophy

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