Another Apple Designer Joins Jony Ive to Work on Hardware for OpenAI

Wednesday December 27, 2023 2:45 am PST by Hartley Charlton

Apple's vice president of product design Tang Tan is set to join Sir Jony Ive's LoveFrom to design hardware products for OpenAI, Bloomberg reports.

chatgpt for iphone feature
Tan will become the latest Apple designer to join LoveFrom, a design company founded by Jony Ive after he departed Apple in 2019. A total of 14 members of Ive's former design team at Apple have now left the company. Only around six designers who once reported to Ive still remain at Apple.

Ive took more Apple designers with him to LoveFrom than remain at Apple. To date, more than 20 former Apple employees have joined Ive's new design firm, including Marc Newson and Shota Aoyagi.

Bloomberg says that Ive's work for OpenAI marks one of his "most ambitious efforts" since he left Apple, and he apparently hopes to turn the work into a new company, with current efforts focused on hiring talent and creating concepts.

At Apple, Tang Tan is vice president of product design and reports to senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus. Tan is responsible for the design of the iPhone, Apple Watch, accessories, and acoustic devices like AirPods. News of his departure emerged earlier this month.

Tan will lead hardware engineering on the OpenAI project while working at LoveFrom. Little is known about OpenAI's hardware ambitions, but Bloomberg claims that projects in the concept stage include devices for the home. Tan officially departs Apple in February, but his responsibilities have already been divided up among successors.

Tags: Bloomberg, ChatGPT, Jony Ive, LoveFrom, Mark Gurman

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Top Rated Comments

Skiefire

38 months ago

Well at least the terminators will look good whilst having 1st gen design flaws, terrible signal and be obsolete within 9 months

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

QuarterSwede

38 months ago

No wonder Apple is struggling with all their new products and stealing patents. All the designers are leaving knowing this ship will sail.

They aren’t leaving because the Apple ship will sail. Apple is a safe bet for job security especially if they’ve learned the corporate politics etc and are comfortable.

They’re probably leaving because they’ve been doing the job for years and want a change. The biggest reason, they have a chance to work with someone they loved working and designing with.

I got a similar chance recently and I’m so glad I took it. Job is great for me stress wise, I see the family more, and I have a chance to make an impact at a smaller company. I also get to work with someone again who is brilliant analytically and takes care of people (a rare combo). It’s a risk but, so far, it’s been worth the change.

I’m now working on the same thing the article is discussing, poaching great people I’ve worked with and want to work with again. So the Jonny angle is that he is pulling in talent because he knows their talent and wants to work with them again too.

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

t0rqx

38 months ago

No wonder Apple is struggling with all their new products and stealing patents. All the designers are leaving knowing this ship will sail.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

klasma

38 months ago

We'll be able to tell the arrival of real AGI when the designers are fired because GPT can now design its devices better than them.

And maybe the iPhone 25 will be designed by Siri? ;)

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

0339327

38 months ago

People will go to the employer that is best for them and it’s not always about money. Studies have shown that, once someone is paid enough, employees are more likely to stay or leave based on who they’re working with and what the work environment is like, much more than a few extra dollars in their check.

Apple has been losing talent for years and I can’t blame them. It used to be about making the greatest products; now, it’s about making the greatest profits.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)