This is a significant development in the tech world! Here’s a breakdown of the information you provided, along with additional context from recent reports:
OpenAI acquires io, Jony Ive’s AI hardware startup, in a $6.5 billion deal.
- io: This is the year-old startup co-founded by Jony Ive with former Apple colleagues Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey, and Tang Tan. It grew out of an earlier partnership between Ive’s design firm LoveFrom and OpenAI, which began in 2023. OpenAI reportedly already owned a 23% stake in io before this acquisition.
- The Goal: The acquisition is a key part of OpenAI’s strategy to build a “new family of products for the next era of computing.” Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, stated that current devices (laptops, phones) are outdated and not optimized for AI, and that their mission is to “create a family of devices that would let people use AI to create all sorts of wonderful things.”
- Jony Ive’s Role: While the original report states io was acquired, it’s more nuanced. LoveFrom, Jony Ive’s independent design collective founded in 2019, will remain a separate entity. However, LoveFrom will assume “deep design and creative responsibilities” across OpenAI and io, effectively becoming OpenAI’s main client for design work. Ive himself will not become an OpenAI employee but will run the creative and design side from within LoveFrom.
- The Vision: Ive and Altman share a vision of creating a new generation of AI-powered devices that are more intuitive and seamlessly integrate AI into daily life. They aim to move beyond adapting existing hardware to AI functions and instead create “AI-native” designs.
- Prototypes and Future: Altman has reportedly tried a prototype device and called it “the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen.” While specific details are scarce, early concepts suggest small, screenless, pebble-like objects with soft, matte textures and rounded contours, prioritizing voice and context-aware AI interaction over traditional app-based navigation. The first products are anticipated to debut around 2026.
- Impact on Apple: Apple shares reportedly fell more than 2% following the announcement, indicating investor apprehension regarding increased competition in the hardware sector now that Ive is aligning with a major AI player.
LoveFrom: Jony Ive’s Design Collective
- Founding: Jony Ive left Apple in 2019 to establish LoveFrom, an independent design company. Apple was initially one of its primary clients.
- Clients: Beyond Apple, LoveFrom has worked with high-profile clients such as Airbnb, Ferrari, and Moncler (designing a series of jackets). They also designed the seal for King Charles III’s coronation.
- Relationship with OpenAI: The collaboration between LoveFrom and OpenAI began quietly in 2023. This partnership ultimately led to the creation of io, and now, with OpenAI’s acquisition of io, LoveFrom will deepen its involvement, essentially becoming the design arm for OpenAI’s hardware ambitions.
This collaboration is a major strategic move for OpenAI, indicating their strong intent to move beyond just software and models into the realm of consumer hardware. With Jony Ive’s renowned design prowess, they are clearly aiming to redefine the user experience for AI, potentially creating a new paradigm for how humans interact with technology.
