Club Benefits
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Daily (Mon-Sun)
Tom's Guide Daily
Sign up to get the latest updates on all of your favorite content! From cutting-edge tech news and the hottest streaming buzz to unbeatable deals on the best products and in-depth reviews, we’ve got you covered.
Weekly on Thursday
Tom's AI Guide
Be AI savvy with your weekly newsletter summing up all the biggest AI news you need to know. Plus, analysis from our AI editor and tips on how to use the latest AI tools!
Weekly on Friday
Tom's iGuide
Unlock the vast world of Apple news straight to your inbox. With coverage on everything from exciting product launches to essential software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.
Weekly on Monday
Tom's Streaming Guide
Our weekly newsletter is expertly crafted to immerse you in the world of streaming. Stay updated on the latest releases and our top recommendations across your favorite streaming platforms.
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
OpenAI is working on a device it claims will bring calm and peace to your digital life, unlike anything the smartphone era has offered.
At the recent Emerson Collective event in San Francisco, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former chief design officer for Apple, Jony Ive, teased their collaboration: an upcoming AI gadget that’s all about simplicity, subtlety, and a distraction-free experience.
Sam Altman and Jony Ive's new device
At the event, Altman described this future device as a “screenless,” pocket-sized product, specifically made to avoid the chaos of today’s digital world.
“When I use current devices or most applications, I feel like I am walking through Times Square in New York and constantly just dealing with all the little indignities along the way — flashing lights in my face… people bumping into me, like noise is going off, and it’s an unsettling thing,” Altman stated during the conversation.
He went on to explain that current tech is buzzing with constant, dopamine-chasing notifications, drawing us away from focus and calm.
A “vibe” designed to soothe, not distract
Instead, Altman and Ive’s device aims for a radically different “vibe.” Altman imagines it feeling like “sitting in the most beautiful cabin by a lake and in the mountains, just enjoying the peace and calm.”
The AI gadget will filter out distractions, presenting information only when it’s actually useful, thanks to what Altman calls “incredible contextual awareness of your whole life.”
Ultimately, Altman explains that users will “trust it over time,” as the gadget gets better at knowing the best times to interact: “You trust it over time, and it does have just this incredible contextual awareness of your whole life.”
Simplicity is the secret sauce
Chiming in on the philosophy behind the design, Ive added: “I love solutions that teeter on appearing almost naive in their simplicity. And I also love incredibly intelligent, sophisticated products that you want to touch, and you feel no intimidation, and you want to use almost carelessly — that you use them almost without thought — that they’re just tools.”
The team confirmed their prototype should be available in under two years. However, no exact dates, prices or further details were given.
If you're tired of “flashing lights” and endless notifications, OpenAI and Ive’s new device could soon offer a much-needed digital detox, with a generous dose of AI smarts.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
- I just tried Flow's 4 new AI editing tools — and I can't believe what it can do now
- Claude Opus 4.5 launches: A major upgrade for coding and workplace efficiency
- I just tested ChatGPT Atlas vs. Chrome with Gemini 3.0 — and there's a clear winner
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
