The Daily AI Briefing - 08/04/2025

Welcome to The Daily AI Briefing, here are today's headlines! In today's briefing, we're covering OpenAI's potential acquisition of Jony Ive's hardware startup, Google's expansion of Gemini Live's visual capabilities, a tutorial on building AI sales representatives with Zapier, Shopify's company-wide AI mandate, and quick updates from Meta and Runway. Let's dive into these developments reshaping the AI landscape today. **OpenAI Explores Acquisition of Jony Ive's AI Device Startup** OpenAI is reportedly in talks to acquire io Products, a secretive AI hardware startup led by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and already backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The deal could value the company at over $500 million. io Products is developing AI-powered personal devices and household products, including an intriguing concept described as a "phone without a screen." Ive and Altman began their collaboration over a year ago, with Altman closely involved in product development as the duo sought to raise $1 billion. Several prominent former Apple executives have joined the project, including Tang Tan, who previously led iPhone hardware design, and Evans Hankey. The device in question is reportedly built by io Products, designed by Ive's studio LoveFrom, and powered by OpenAI's AI models. While OpenAI acquiring an Altman-associated startup comes with its share of drama, the AI leader has consistently expressed interest in hardware. A powerful OpenAI wearable could potentially be an "iPhone moment" for AI hardware, especially as competitors' attempts have left much to be desired. **Google Expands Gemini Live's Visual Capabilities** Google has announced an expanded rollout of Gemini Live's "Project Astra" features, bringing real-time visual AI capabilities to more Android devices. The update introduces new ways to interact with the AI through video and screen sharing, allowing users to have multilingual conversations with Gemini about anything they see through their phone's camera or shared screen. The feature is rolling out today to all Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 devices, with Samsung offering it at no additional cost to flagship users. Initial testing reveals the current "live" feature functions more like enhanced Google Lens snapshots rather than the continuous video analysis shown in demos. Project Astra was initially revealed at Google I/O last May and began rolling out to Advanced subscribers last month. While the current implementation may not be the full Astra vision initially showcased, real-time visual analysis is advancing rapidly. Imagine this technology integrated into smartglasses or wearables – it could unlock truly context-aware AI assistants that understand the world around us. **Build an AI Sales Rep with Zapier** Zapier has released a tutorial showing how to create an AI-powered sales representative that automatically qualifies website leads and drafts follow-up emails for promising prospects. The step-by-step guide teaches users how to leverage Zapier Agents to streamline lead qualification processes. The process begins by visiting Zapier Agents and selecting "New Agent," then providing a name and description. Users connect Google Forms as the trigger to capture new responses, then use natural language to instruct the agent on identifying quality leads based on criteria like email domains. Finally, users configure the agent to automatically create personalized email drafts in Gmail for qualified leads. This practical application shows how businesses can implement AI to handle time-consuming sales qualification tasks, freeing human representatives to focus on closing deals and building relationships with prospects most likely to convert. **Shopify Mandates Company-Wide AI Usage** Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke has released an internal memo mandating AI proficiency across the commerce giant. The directive establishes "reflexive AI usage" as a baseline expectation for all employees, with AI competency now included in p