OpenAI has taken a bold step into the world of hardware by acquiring io, the startup co-founded by legendary Apple designer Jony Ive, in a $6.5 billion deal. The move signals a major shift for the AI firm, long focused on software, and echoes the disruptive spirit once associated with Apple during the Jobs-Ive era. The acquisition is already being described by insiders as a moment that “Steve Jobs would be proud of.”
A visionary reunion with Apple’s design legacy
Jony Ive, the creative force behind iconic Apple products like the iPhone and iMac, is now poised to reshape how people interact with artificial intelligence. OpenAI, known for developing ChatGPT, is forming a hardware division that blends Ive’s world-class design ethos with cutting-edge AI technology. The startup io, which includes a team of over 50 hardware and software experts, will work closely with OpenAI’s engineers to create a new category of intelligent devices.
A long-term vision rooted in shared values
According to a joint statement by Sam Altman and Ive, the collaboration began two years ago, sparked by “friendship, curiosity and shared values”. Although details of the upcoming device remain under wraps, OpenAI has confirmed that the first product is expected in 2026. Ive hinted that the tech world has stagnated in innovation, and that this project aims to deliver something truly original and meaningful.
A calculated risk amid recent failures
OpenAI enters the hardware race as others stumble—projects like the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1 failed to impress. Still, OpenAI believes this partnership, blending visionary design with transformative AI, has the potential to set a new industry standard.