Longtime Apple design head Jony Ive has largely avoided creating new tech devices since starting his own firm, LoveFrom. But early details on Ives new personalized AI device have revealed the designer could be treading familiar territory in his partnership with OpenAIs Sam Altman.Ives AI product designs are still early, but evoke phone comparisonsStephanie Palazzolo and Jessica E. Lessin write at The Information:OpenAI in recent weeks discussed acquiring a startup its CEO Sam Altman has been working on with ex-Apple designer Jony Ives studio to develop an artificial intelligence-powered personal device, according to two people with direct knowledge of the deal talks. []Designs for the AI device are still early and havent been finalized, the people said. Potential designs include a phone without a screen and AI-enabled household devices, they said. Others close to the project are adamant that it is not a phone.That second paragraph shows how potentially innovative Ives new project is, as The Informations sources seem to have trouble even making a comparison to existing products.The idea of it being a phone without a screen is on one hand absurd, but it also helps indicate the direction of the product.It may not technically be a phone, as certain sources are adamant about, but it may very well work a lot like one.Unlike failed AI hardware such as the Humane Ai Pin, it seems Ives new product could be much more than just a niche companion to the smartphone. Its possible its ambitions are to replace it altogether.Of course, work is still early, and details are scarce. But the early hints point to a device thats very exciting to me personally, truly built from the ground up for the AI age.Its no surprise, then, that OpenAI is considering acquiring io products, the Sam Altman company thats working on the product with Ive. Its already powered by OpenAIs tech, so bringing io into OpenAIs fold makes a lot of sense.What do you make of these early details on Jony Ives new AI product? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel