OpenAI Taps Jony Ive for New Era of AI Devices
2025-07-10•Shirin Ghaffary, Mark Gurman•1 minutes read
Technology
Hardware
Acquisition
OpenAI Enters Hardware with Landmark Acquisition
In a groundbreaking move, OpenAI has officially finalized its acquisition of an AI device startup co-founded by the legendary former design chief of Apple Inc., Jony Ive. The all-stock deal, valued at nearly $6.5 billion, firmly establishes the ChatGPT creator's ambitions in the competitive hardware space.
The Minds Behind the Machine: Jony Ive Joins OpenAI
This acquisition, marking the largest in OpenAI's history, creates a new, dedicated division focused entirely on the development of next-generation AI-powered devices. By bringing the secretive startup, known as io, into the fold, OpenAI not only gains a new hardware unit but also secures the unparalleled design expertise of Ive and other former Apple visionaries responsible for iconic products like the iPhone.
