The iPhone Of AI

PRESENTED BY GENEVA

It’s Thursday, Future Party. There’s probably no ticket more expensive right now than sitting courtside to see the New York Knicks on their home turf play the Indiana Pacers. You’ll have to pay an eye-watering $62,000 to see if they’ll triumph in the Eastern Conference Finals… but that may be just to sit near diehard fan Timotheé Chalamet. If you’re an agent trying to get Timmy to read a script, scoring a seat next to him would be the ultimate hustle.

OpenAI is acquiring hardware firm io — created by legendary iPhone and iPod designer Jony Ive — in a $6.5 billion deal.

The Big Picture: For the past couple of years, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Ive have been toying around with ideas for a hardware device that can define the AI era — like the iPhone did for smartphones. By combining the powers of Altman (who really needs OpenAI to turn a profit) and Ive (who has some serious misgivings about smartphones), there’s enough motivation to possibly make that ambition a reality.

Behind the Curtain: OpenAI’s purchase of io is the company’s biggest acquisition ever.

The Future: One thing is almost certain about the hypothetical device: it probably won’t have a screen — or at most, a very minimal one. Both Altman and Ive have criticized the way screens distract people and impact their behavior. Still, they remain closely tied to smartphones. Most people use ChatGPT on their phones, and Ive has never created anything as influential as the iPhone. Both men are eager to change that.

Prediction: A hit device out of the partnership could lead to the rise of “ambient computing” that uses AI to automatically take in information, autonomously complete tasks, and “naturally” communicate with its user. In other words, it would be OpenAI’s iPhone moment (or at least more successful than Humane’s AI Pin).

Did you know the World Wide Web was born in Geneva, Switzerland?

Indeed, the first version of the Internet cropped up at CERN in 1989.

Today, the world-renowned center is home to:
– the largest particle accelerator
– and the CERN Science Gateway — a must-see hub for science enthusiasts

It features:
– hands-on exhibits
– immersive virtual reality experiences
– and live demonstrations

Plan your visit and explore the cutting-edge world of physics and innovation at the CERN Science Gateway!

While Peak TV has led to comedies with as much cinematic ambition and real-world atmosphere as a prestige drama, old-school sitcoms that use laugh tracks are not just abundant — but popular.

Why It Hits: Laugh tracks being popular in the year 2025 may seem like a plot out of The Twilight Zone, but it’s somehow true in this timeline. As TV studios tighten their belts and try to program shows that can appeal to the widest audience, cheap-to-make sitcoms could become a hot ticket — especially if they’re backed by laugh tracks that make sure jokes are landing as broadly as possible.

Behind the Scenes: When was the last time that you watched a show with a laugh track that wasn’t a rewatch of a Friends or Seinfeld episode?

For most Americans, it’s probably pretty recent, per THR.

Last Laugh: So, why do people still love laugh tracks? There’s reportedly a comfort to them, making people feel like they’re watching the show with others (we’re in a government-recognized loneliness epidemic after all). Additionally, laugh tracks have been proven to make jokes seem funnier — you laugh because others are laughing (whether that laughter comes from a live-studio audience or recordings of people who died decades ago).

Prediction: While people like the cozy feeling of a laugh track, others may be drawn to them for how unnatural they are… so expect a new hit comedy to come out with an innovative use of the feature.

While others chase trends, you’re here to get sharper.

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73.4% of you voted Yes in yesterday’s poll: Have you found yourself cutting back on spending recently?

“Discount grocery stores, more leftovers in recipes, and delaying some purchases til next year.”

“Mostly just trying to be more mindful of purchases, such as do we really need this. Also, waiting at least two days before making an online purchase.”

“I’m actually spending more, because after 2.5 years of looking, I finally got a job. Now, I can buy a few things I’ve been holding off on.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join our Poll Of The Day newsletter, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

🍿 The debuts of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning and Lilo & Stitch could fuel the biggest Memorial Day Weekend box office in history.

🎤 Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is now the longest-charting rap song on the Billboard Hot 100 at 53 weeks and counting.

🖌️ AI animation firm Cartwheel — which includes Pixar vets in its C-suite — has come out of beta with backing from DreamWorks Animation founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and Craft Ventures firm head David Sacks.

🤖 Elon Musk announced that he plans to remain as Tesla’s CEO for the next five years to help the company transition from EVs to humanoid robots.

🙃 Meta is raising the bar for employees not to be considered “below expectations” and face yet another round of layoffs.

💻 Google Chrome wants to change your bad passwords for you (so, all of our passwords).

👓 More Google news: the tech giant is teaming up with Warby Parker and eyewear brand Gentle Monster on smart glasses.

👕 Fear of God is collabing with the Malcolm X Estate and Barriers Worldwide to benefit the youth-development nonprofit the Shabazz Foundation.

👜 Chanel is pulling back on price hikes after the luxury brand realizes that even the wealthy have a price limit.