Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, just revealed similar plans for an AI-powered newfangled 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 device. He’s referring to it as a “third core device,” and it’ll join the MacBook Pro and iPhone. This new AI companion is specifically built to integrate with your everyday life. It’s about the size of a smartphone so it can fit easily into your pocket, but it’s powerful enough to be your primary device sitting on your desk.
The idea for a proposed AI companion would definitely be a break from the norm. It provides a completely new type of device, derived from the power of technology beyond handhelds, wearables and glasses that other makers helped create. Altman made clear that this technology is different speaking at The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024. He enthusiastically pointed to its potential to disrupt the way end-users communicate with artificial intelligence.
OpenAI’s secretive acquisition strategy around this unassuming device might be enough to collectively boost the company’s market cap by nearly $1 trillion. This ambitious projection indicates the high expectations that Altman and his team have for the product’s success in the marketplace.
Throughout his speech, Altman emphasized to staff the overriding need to keep the development of the project a closely guarded secret. In particular, he stressed the need to keep competitors from replicating their innovations ahead of launch. This strategy will be key to maintaining OpenAI’s long-term competitive advantage. The integrated product is already in testing, but the company hasn’t announced public launch date specifics just yet. This leads us to the exciting capabilities and features of the AI companion.
Altman hopes this AI companion will be more than a utility. For this latest effort, he wants to move the topic of generative AI even deeper into the public consciousness. OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that advanced artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. Overall, their intention is to provide an integrated experience that increases user productivity and engagement.
Though this announcement has garnered much fanfare, specifics are still difficult to come by. The company has yet to give a more concrete release date, and a full set of specifications for the device have not been made public. That lack of information only sparks the curiosity and excitement about the project. It serves to highlight the deeply intentional planning that went into its development.