Former Apple Design Chief Joins Forces with AI Leader
OpenAI announced on Wednesday that it will acquire io, a hardware startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in a deal valued at $5 billion in stock[1]. The acquisition represents a major move that brings together one of tech's most influential designers with a leading artificial intelligence company.
Strategic Partnership Details
The deal values io at $6.4 billion and is expected to close this summer[1]. OpenAI already held a stake in the company through a collaboration agreement signed last year[1][2].
The acquisition will see io's 55 employees join OpenAI to form a new hardware division led by Peter Welinder[1]. Ive, who was a key collaborator with Steve Jobs and masterminded many of Apple's iconic design breakthroughs, will take on a significant creative role at OpenAI[1].
Background and Vision
The collaboration between Ive's creative collective LoveFrom and OpenAI began quietly two years ago, built upon "friendship, curiosity and shared values," according to a joint statement from Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman[2]. What started as tentative ideas evolved into concrete designs that the teams described as "optimistic and hopeful"[2].
As their ambitions grew to develop, engineer, and manufacture "a new family of products," Ive founded io one year ago alongside Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey, and Tang Tan[2]. The company brought together experts in hardware, software, technology, physics, science, research, and product development[2].
Future Direction
While Ive's design consultancy LoveFrom will remain independent, the io team will merge with OpenAI to work more closely with the research, engineering, and product teams in San Francisco[1][2]. The acquisition positions OpenAI to potentially develop AI-powered hardware devices that could bring a fresh approach to how users interact with artificial intelligence technology.
This strategic move marks a significant expansion of OpenAI's capabilities beyond software development and signals the company's ambitions to create physical products that incorporate their
ChatGPT and other AI technologies.
