Former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive is currently in talks with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who developed ChatGPT, about a new project featuring new "AI hardware." On Tuesday, The Information reported that talks are continuing about building a new kind of AI device. The site said the report was based on the knowledge of two "conversant" tech titans who are reportedly engaged in an exchange.

What the actual hardware device will look like, or whether the two will actually build it, is not yet public knowledge. However, Ive and Altman are believed to have revealed some ideas about what new hardware in the AI age will look like.

Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, an avid investor, is also said to have participated in these conversations. Despite his current involvement, it is unclear whether he will continue to serve on the board.

Jony Ive is known for being a close creative collaborator with Steve Jobs and being at the forefront of the design of some of Apple's most popular products. A native of England, Ive left Apple in 2019 after spending more than 20 years in Cupertino. He led the design of the color iMac, which was a major factor in Apple's resurgence in the 1990s. Ive was also part of the iPhone design team with Tony Fadell and worked on the revival of the MacBook.

OpenAI is the developer of the popular chatbot ChatGPT and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, the company just announced new voice and image features for its AI chatbot in the next two weeks.

With news of these discussions spreading like wildfire in the tech sector, ChatGPT now appears to be further solidifying its position as a leader in generative AI. Joining forces with the man behind Apple's design philosophy to develop a new superstar product seems like a smart step, especially as competition from Google Bird intensifies.

Of course, Google's all-in-on-AI plans may be further solidified at the Pixel 8 event next month on October 4.