OpenAI Onboards Jony Ive to Design AI Hardware in USD 6.5 Bn Deal

OpenAI has hired Jony Ive, the designer of Apple's iPhone, to lead a new hardware project for the artificial intelligence company, OpenAI that produces ChatGPT.

Key Highlights

• OpenAI acquires Jony Ive's startup io for $6.5B, marking its largest deal to date.
• Jony Ive and team to design AI-native devices, with first product launch expected in 2026.

OpenAI announced that it is acquiring io, a product and engineering company co-founded by Ive, for nearly $6.5 billion.

According to OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman has been quietly collaborating with Ive and his design firm, LoveFrom, since 2023.

I've been with Apple for over two decades and am best known for his work on the iconic iPhone, iMac, and iPad designs. Ive was Apple's chief design officer before leaving in 2019 to launch his own design firm.

Ive and Altman stated in a joint letter published on OpenAI's website on Wednesday that it became evident that our goals of creating, designing, and manufacturing a new line of products required a completely new business.

At that point, Tang Tan, Evans Hankey, and Scott Cannon joined me in co-founding io.

According to OpenAI, Ive will not be joining the company, and his design collective, LoveFrom, will continue to operate independently while taking on deep design and creative duties for OpenAI and io. San Francisco is home to both OpenAI and Ive's design firm.