The collaboration between OpenAI and legendary designer Jony Ive is finally moving from the drawing board to the factory floor. The tech world has spent months speculating about what a ChatGPT-powered device might look like. However, a recent move suggests the OpenAI-Jony Ive device could be a “US-made” AI hardware product.
OpenAI recently issued a formal Request for Proposals (RFP), as Bloomberg reports. The document specifically targets manufacturing partners within the United States. This move covers a broad spectrum of the AI supply chain, from data center cooling systems to robotics. However, one specific category stands out: consumer electronics assembly. Since OpenAI currently lacks a hardware portfolio, this request almost certainly points toward the screenless AI gadget being developed by Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom.
Made in America: OpenAI seeks US partners for Jony Ive’s AI device
For a long time, the standard route for consumer tech has gone straight to huge manufacturing centers like Shenzhen. OpenAI seems to be going in a different direction by looking for domestic partners to do final assembly and make tools for components. The goal of this strategy is to rely less on complicated supply chains from other countries. It could also help the firm deal with the growing uncertainty about international tariffs.
Building domestically also serves a dual purpose. It positions OpenAI as a key player in the revitalization of the American industrial sector. By demonstrating a tangible demand for high-tech manufacturing, the company strengthens its case for government support and faster infrastructure approvals—factors that are crucial for its ambitious data center projects. Let’s remember the multi-billion dollar “Stargate” supercomputer project.
What to expect
The manufacturing location might be becoming clearer. However, we still can’t say the same about the device itself. Reports describe it as a screenless wearable or handheld, slightly larger than the Humane AI Pin. It will probably act as a dedicated physical portal for ChatGPT behind the scenes. The product might make it easier to talk to AI without having to look at a smartphone screen.
The partnership with Foxconn to produce server racks within the US further confirms that OpenAI is serious about its “domestic-first” approach. If the company succeeds, its first consumer product won’t just represent a new way to use artificial intelligence. This could be a historic turning point for US-based electronics manufacturing.
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