Apple fans may know Jony Ive as the creative force behind some of the company’s most unforgettable products, but today, he made an unexpected move…teaming up with OpenAI in a massive $6.5 billion all-stock deal. That’s right, Sam Altman’s OpenAI acquired Ive’s AI hardware venture, io, to combine his iconic design brilliance with its trailblazing AI technology.
Two years ago, Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom, started working with OpenAI’s Sam Altman, sparked by a connection through Airbnb’s Brian Chesky. That collaboration birthed io in 2024, a startup staffed with ex-Apple designers like Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, focused on AI-powered devices that feel intuitive, not clunky. OpenAI’s acquisition brings io’s 55-person team into its San Francisco hub, while LoveFrom stays independent, shaping the look and feel of OpenAI’s products, from ChatGPT’s interface to future gadgets.
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Why hardware? Altman and Ive, chatting in a cozy nine-minute video on OpenAI’s site, argue that phones and laptops aren’t built for AI’s full potential. They want a device designed from the ground up for AI—something that makes using ChatGPT as natural as picking up a pen. Early whispers suggest io’s been prototyping smart home devices or wearables, though details are hush-hush. Altman calls one prototype “mind-blowing,” but we’re likely waiting until 2026 to see it.
This move shakes up OpenAI’s game. Valued at $300 billion with 400 million weekly ChatGPT users, it’s a software giant now diving into hardware. By snagging io, OpenAI’s betting on devices that make AI feel seamless, like the iPhone did for smartphones. Google’s pushing AI glasses with Samsung, Meta’s making waves, and Apple’s scrambling with iPhone 16’s AI features. Ive, who shaped Apple’s golden era, now challenges his old employer with a fresh vision.
There’s risk, though. Hardware’s tricky—just look at Humane’s AI pin, which Altman backed but flopped. OpenAI’s $6.5 billion gamble, its biggest yet, awaits regulatory approval, expected this summer. Supply chains and consumer interest could trip things up, but Ive’s track record—iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch—hints at devices that feel like extensions of you. X posts are abuzz, with some calling this a “post-smartphone” leap, though others doubt OpenAI’s hardware chops.
What’s next? OpenAI’s tight-lipped but promises more in 2026. With Ive’s design finesse and Altman’s AI ambition, they’re not just building smarter chatbots—they’re crafting a future where AI feels personal. Whether it’s a sleek wearable or a smart home hub, this deal sets a new standard for AI’s role in our lives, making the race to humanize tech a lot more thrilling.
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