Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s AI Device Startup in Funding Talks With Emerson, Thrive

A mysterious company started by former Apple designer Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to launch an artificial intelligence-powered personal device has started funding talks with some of the biggest names in venture capital.

The startup has discussed deals with Emerson Collective and Thrive Capital, a major investor in OpenAI, whose conversational AI could theoretically power some of the device features, according to a person involved in the process and another person with knowledge of the talks. Ive wants to raise up to $1 billion in funding, said a second person who has been involved in the process.