Openai acquires IO, the start of the device that CEO Sam Altman and the famous designer of Apple Jony Ive worked quietly for two years, in a deal of all shares worth starting at $ 6.5 billion, according to Wall Street Journal magazine. As part of the unusual agreement announced Wednesday, IVE and its design company, Lovefrom, will now lead creative and design projects at Openai.
‘Excited to work with Jony, [in my opinion] the largest designer in the world, “Altman told a Post in x Wednesday. “Excited to try to create a new generation of computers fueled with AI.”
The collaboration of Openai and Ive sets one of Apple’s former design head – famous for creating many iPhones, iPods, iPads and Apple Watches – at the forefront of the newer technological wave, genetic AI. Since the start of Chatgpt in 2022, OpenAi has greatly enhanced consumer businesses. Earlier this month, the company appointed its former META executive and Instacart Fidji Simo chief executive to lead its consumer applications.
Ive could help OpenAI immediately compete with Apple in the consumer material, exerting even greater pressure on the iPhone manufacturer. In recent years, Apple has struggled to develop AI features that are in line with the latest technology from Openai and Google. Apple’s stock decreased by 2% on Wednesday following the announcement of the Openai and IVE cooperation.
IO has a staff of about 55 engineers, scientists, researchers, natural and specialist product development, according to the Wall Street Journal, who will participate in OpenAI. Many of the IO employees are former Apple designers – including Scott Cannon, Evans Hanken and Tang Tan – who helped build the most virtual products of the business.
IVE maintains control of its design company, Lovefrom, which will continue to operate independently.
IO, under Openai, will develop consumer devices and other AI -powered projects. Altman and Ive have been reported to a device that moves consumers “beyond screens”. Parachute He says the first devices of Ive and Altman are ready to debut in 2026. The Wall Street Journal reports that Ive will have an extensive role, giving inflows to future versions of Chatgpt and others.
Openai already had 23% share in IO as part of an agreement between companies last year, according to The New York Times. This means that Openai will pay $ 5 billion to fully obtain the IO, signaling the largest acquisition of Chatgpt manufacturer. Reportedly, the OpenAI starting fund made a separate investment in IO last year.
To one Video posted by OpenaiAltman said IO’s mission is to create a family of AI devices that will allow people to use AI to produce “all the wonderful things”. Ive said he was convinced that everything they have learned “in the last 30 years has led me to this place and right now”. The first AI IO device works for IO’s imagination, he said.
The world of AI devices is still in a young age. Altman was the first investor in Humane, another AI hardware company founded by former Apple employees, who made a “PIN” powered by AI. After a series of stust, Humane was sold to HP and Sunsetted devices.
Meanwhile, other formulators for AI devices have shown more promises. Smart glasses powered by META AI, which are developed with the giant Essilorluxottica of glasses, have achieved strong sales and adoption among consumers. This week, Google presented the version of AI Smart Glasses developing with Samsung, Warby Parker and other partners.
In the end, it is not clear what the Openai devices will get. Later in the video, Altman noted how using a laptop or smartphone to access the chatgpt was very cumbersome. Instead, Openai’s CEO suggested to use a device more integrated into his daily life
The information He mentioned for the first time in Openai’s discussions about the acquisition of IO in March. At that time, the two companies are said to be discussing a device that would bring a version of technology from the movie “Her” to life.
