Who is Jony Ive?
Jony Ive is a designer known for his work on Apple products, now collaborating with OpenAI on a hardware device. In May 2026, Ive criticized the use of multi-touch interfaces in cars, arguing that they distract drivers, and questioned the assumption that electric vehicles should have digital interfaces. By July 2026, Casey Newton reported that OpenAI’s first hardware product, developed with Ive, would be a screen-free home smart speaker.
Track record
- May 2026 - Jony Ive said multi-touch shouldn’t be in a car because it requires looking at a display instead of the road.
- May 2026 - Jony Ive said that the assumption that electric power implies a digital interface is a huge leap.
- Jul 2026 - Casey Newton reported that OpenAI’s first hardware product, developed with Ive, would be a screen-free home smart speaker.
On the record
What named speakers have said about Jony Ive.
Jony Ive on multi-touch interfaces in cars.
“Multi-touch shouldn't be in a car, I believe, because if you're having to do basic things, it requires of course by definition that you're not looking where you're going and you're looking at a display.”Jony Ive · 25 May 2026
Jony Ive on the false assumption linking electric powertrains to digital interfaces.
“For some reason just because the power source is electric there is some assumption that the interface should be digital and that's a huge leap.”Jony Ive · 25 May 2026
Jony Ive argues that an electric powertrain does not logically imply a digital interface, pushing back on a widely held automotive design assumption.
“For some reason just because the power source is electric there is some assumption that the interface should be digital and that's a huge leap.”Jony Ive · 25 May 2026
OpenAI's first hardware product is reportedly a mobile, screen-free home smart speaker developed with Jony Ive, positioning it as a direct competitor to Amazon Echo and Alexa.
“OpenAI's first hardware product, the thing that Johnny IV has been working on with them being some sort of a mobile screenfree home smart speaker.”Casey Newton · 17 Jul 2026