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Comment by shreezus | Hacker News Reader

Apple is well aware of Altman's intent to build consumer AI hardware (additionally, Altman is allegedly collaborating with Jony Ive on the project).

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What's that OpenAI hardware even likely to be? The attempts at consumer AI hardware so far have had no compelling answer to "why isn't this an app on the phone I already have".

Same strategy as a Kindle, Fire TV or a Portal – a proprietary gateway to services they sell, probably sold at or below cost. It's in line with their work on ChatGPT voice mode and such.

Ah yes, following the winning strategy of Fire devices

Kindle is good stuff though. On the other hand, I can't imagine what a dedicated device would bring to the table that a smartphone / tablet would not in this case...

It’s probably a wearable device and the most instant uncanny valley nerd alert device imaginable, that makes bluetools and google glass wearers seem almost normal.

Something like the flop Humane:

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/humane-ai-hands-on-my-life-...

Funnily enough Amazon did try making a subsidised smartphone with deep integration of their services and it was a disastrous flop. Kindle and Fire TV succeeded by not directly competing with smartphones, but rather complementing them by being good at things that smartphones can do but not well.

If OpenAI plans to fork Android into their own thing then I can't see it going any better than Amazon's attempt did, and if it's a wearable like Humane/Rabbit then it needs an answer to "why isn't this an app".

To be fair the phone failures were at least in part due to Googles anti competitive behaviours that they are being (have been?) fined for.

> fork Android into their own thing

They could make a custom version of Android and make a device that delivers what the Rabbit R1 said it would but didn’t.

A device that can run Android apps, but where the device can interact with the apps on its own based on your voice commands.

The idea of the Rabbit R1 was good, kind of. OpenAI could pull it off.

Why do you need an app? Couldn't you just call an AI and talk to it?

the only AI hardware that matters are the GPU´s

if altman gets his billions he can buy or build some maybe

There are several ways that AI hardware could compete with GPUs:

1. more VRAM -- better capacity for running large models and training new models/LoRAs/etc.;

2. more matrix and tensor accelerators/cores -- be able to run the neural networks faster;

3. dedicated silicon for ReLU and other common neural net building blocks to better accelerate workflows;

4. efficient use of the above to ideally run a model at the same speed but lower power;

5. affordability at the higher end so you are not spending £30,000+ on an AI workstation/server just to get 80GB VRAM.

yeah sorry i was only thinking about all the dumb ai gadgets that the grifters are raising millions to shovel us and are gameboys + llm or mics on your neck

Spend a few minutes with the multi-modal models and you can figure it out. It'll probably be closer to the humane AI pin, but with a better design (no stupid projector) and a better version of the model backing it.

The alternative to consider is Meta RayBan. Personally I think that form factor is a more likely starting point as vision is going to be a big deal.

But agreed that the pin (or ring / earring / other wearable) form factor is an obvious place to build too.

A device which constantly listens and chimes in whenever you ask it to, or whenever it thinks it can contribute (if set to do so)

It should be clear that OpenAi wants to be as important as the other tech giants (MAGMA? I don't know the new acronym), not just a large tech company

Didn't go for the obvious 'GAMMA'?

Let’s say that’s true. Wouldn’t it be a useful edge?

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