Altman Bought Apple’s Soul

Hello there! Ready to dive into another upgrading, Mind-boggling, and Value-filled Shift?

Today we have:

🧠 OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s io

🎬 How to Create Animated Videos Using Animate AI, Step-by-Step

🛍️ Shopify’s AI-Powered Summer ’25 Update

🏆 Tools and Shifts You Cannot Miss

🧠 OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s io

OpenAI has officially acquired io, the secretive AI hardware startup founded by legendary Apple designer Jony Ive, in a $6.5B all-stock deal merging cutting-edge AI research with world-class hardware and design, a clear signal that OpenAI is ready to compete in the physical device arena. The first products are expected in 2026.

The Shift:

1. Hardware Meets Visionary Design - io brings over 50 engineers and ex-Apple product veterans to OpenAI, including minds behind the iPhone and iPad, with LoveFrom, Ive’s design firm, now overseeing creative direction across all OpenAI products. 

2. A New Class of AI Devices - OpenAI and Ive have spent two years quietly developing devices to redefine how we use AI in everyday life. Altman also teased a prototype, calling it the “coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen,” reducing screen dependency and enhancing real-world integration.

3. Creative Control at Scale - LoveFrom won’t just lead hardware design, it will also influence the feel and philosophy behind OpenAI’s full product suite, mirroring Apple’s original design-led model, where form and function fuse from the start. 

4. A Philosophical Collaboration - Altman called Ive “the deepest thinker he’s ever met,” while Ive said the work feels like the culmination of his 30-year career. Both view this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how technology feels and functions. It’s optimism, nostalgia, and futurism in one deal.

This isn’t just a hardware acquisition, it’s OpenAI’s leap into product history. By merging deep AI with human-first design, Altman and Ive are aiming for the next iPhone moment, but this time, it talks back.

🎬 How to Create Animated Videos Using Animate AI, Step-by-Step

Animate AI lets you bring any static image to life with motion, no 3D rigging or animation skills needed. Here’s exactly how to use it to turn images into smooth, character-driven videos:

✅ Step-by-Step Guide

1. Go to animateai.pro

Sign in or create a free account to access the animation workspace.

2. Upload a Reference Image

Click “Create” and upload a static image, which can be AI-generated (e.g., Midjourney), illustrated, or hand-drawn. The character should be clearly visible, ideally front-facing or in a dynamic pose.

3. Enter a Motion Prompt

Type a natural language prompt describing the movement you want.

Examples:

• “A girl jumps with joy and waves both hands.”

• “A robot turns, points forward, then smiles.”
  
  You can be specific about gestures, speed, or emotion.

4. Choose Duration and Settings

Select the animation length (usually 3,5 seconds works well). You can also adjust motion smoothness, frame style, or rendering preferences depending on your plan.

5. Click “Animate” and Wait

Hit Animate and let the AI generate the motion. This may take a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on load and complexity.

6. Download and Use

Preview your result. If you’re happy, download the animated video. You can now edit it further in tools like CapCut or Premiere, or post it directly to socials.

That’s it, image in, motion out. Pixar-style charm with zero animation tools.

🛍️ Shopify’s AI-Powered Summer ’25 Update

Shopify just launched its Summer ’25 Edition, delivering one of its most ambitious AI upgrades yet. From a fully automated store builder to an upgraded Sidekick assistant and new AI shopping agent tools, Shopify is reshaping what it means to launch and run an online business. 

The Shift:

1. AI Store Builder + Horizon Themes - Merchants can now create entire storefronts from a simple text prompt, including layout, images, and branding. The new Horizon theme system adds AI-assisted customization blocks, letting sellers shape their store without touching code.

2. Sidekick Becomes an Actionable Co-Pilot - The upgraded Sidekick now offers voice control, screen sharing, and deeper reasoning and can also analyze business trends, run reports, set discounts, and create customer segments, all with natural prompts. Think of it as an intelligent operator, not just a chatbot.

3. AI Shopping Agents Expand Reach - Shopify’s new tools connect merchants with shoppers on platforms like Perplexity via the Global Catalog, while storefronts MCP lets brands build AI agents that recommend products, answer questions, and complete purchases in real-time.

4. Knowledge Base + Brand Controls - Merchants can now customize how AI tools represent their brand with auto-generated FAQs and control over responses, maintaining brand voice and providing accurate answers in third-party AI shopping environments. 

Shopify’s Summer ’25 Edition turns AI from a feature into a foundation. From launch to growth, merchants now have tools that think, act, and sell, giving creators more time to focus on what really matters: building a brand people love.

🔗 AI Tools for the Shift

👁️ Eye Shape AI – Instantly analyze your eye shape with AI. A simple upload gives you a detailed visual breakdown.

🔗 Backlink Management – Automate link building, monitor backlinks, and boost SEO. All-in-one AI dashboard for digital marketers.

💼 WorkUp – Generate AI-powered resumes, cover letters, and prep for interviews—100% free. Your AI career toolkit starts here.

🎙️ Voicetype AI – Write 7× faster with AI-powered speech-to-text across any app. Just speak, and watch your words appear instantly.

🛍️ Quick Shifts

📡 Google’s AI Mode rollout in US Search replaces traditional results with AI-generated summaries, drawing criticism from news publishers over lost traffic. Opting out will require full removal from Search indexing.

🛍️ Google’s new SynthID Detector can now scan text, images, audio, and video for AI watermarks from tools like Gemini and Veo, helping verify AI-generated content. Early access is now rolling out.

🎙️ Google reportedly avoided giving publishers real opt-out choices from AI Search, fearing lost data access. Internal docs reveal silent updates and limited transparency around how content feeds AI Overviews.

 🧵Klarna used an AI avatar of its CEO to present earnings, showcasing AI’s role in streamlining staff by 40% and boosting profits. The avatar’s realism blurred lines, raising future CEO debates.

That’s all for today’s edition see you tomorrow as we track down and get you all that matters in the daily AI Shift!

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