Sir Jony Ive, the British designer credited with shaping some of Apple’s most iconic products, is officially joining OpenAI in a multibillion-dollar move that could reshape the future of AI hardware.
OpenAI announced Wednesday it is acquiring Ive’s startup, io, in a $6.5 billion (£4.7 billion) deal. The acquisition will bring Sir Jony into a central role at the AI powerhouse, with the company stating he will assume “deep design and creative responsibilities.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called Ive “the greatest designer in the world” and said he was “thrilled” to formally collaborate with the former Apple design chief. The two will work closely on what they describe as a “new generation of AI-powered computers.”
“We believe we have a unique opportunity to completely reimagine what it means to use a computer,” said Altman in a video statement. He added that he had already tested a prototype device from Ive’s team and called it “the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen.”
Sir Jony echoed the excitement, describing the project as a step into a new technological era. “We are on the brink of a new generation of technology,” he said. “The first device we’ve been working on has completely captured our imagination.”
The announcement signals a significant move by OpenAI into the hardware space, an area where others have struggled. Recent efforts by startups like Humane AI, founded by former Apple executives, have stumbled due to design flaws and performance issues.
Sir Jony, who spent 27 years at Apple, played a pivotal role in the design of products such as the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. His design vision helped revive Apple in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He left the company in 2019 to found his own firm, LoveFrom, which has worked with companies like Airbnb and Moncler.
Apple shares dipped more than 2% following news of his partnership with OpenAI — a signal of the impact Ive’s design prowess continues to have on the tech world.
According to the companies, LoveFrom had been “quietly collaborating” with OpenAI for two years, and the formation of io emerged from that partnership. OpenAI previously held a 23% stake in the startup.
Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, said it would be “foolish to bet against Jony Ive,” citing his history of market-defining innovation. He also noted that OpenAI’s move likely reflects a desire to “own the user experience” rather than rely on hardware platforms built by Apple, Google, or others.
The push into hardware comes as major tech rivals invest heavily in AI-integrated devices, from smart glasses to headsets. With Ive and Altman now aligned, OpenAI aims to carve out its own place in that fast-evolving market.
