{"id":169712,"date":"2025-05-21T17:59:35","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T17:59:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/21\/jony-ive-to-lead-openais-design-work-following-6-5b-acquisition-of-his-company-techcrunch\/"},"modified":"2025-05-21T17:59:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T17:59:35","slug":"jony-ive-to-lead-openais-design-work-following-6-5b-acquisition-of-his-company-techcrunch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/21\/jony-ive-to-lead-openais-design-work-following-6-5b-acquisition-of-his-company-techcrunch\/","title":{"rendered":"Jony Ive to lead OpenAI’s design work following $6.5B acquisition of his company | TechCrunch"},"content":{"rendered":"


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OpenAI is acquiring io, the device startup that CEO Sam Altman and famed Apple designer Jony Ive have quietly been working on for two years, in an all-equity deal that values that startup at $6.5 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal<\/a>. As part of the unusual deal announced Wednesday, Ive and his design firm, LoveFrom, will now lead creative and design work at OpenAI.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrilled to be partnering with Jony, [in my opinion] the greatest designer in the world,\u201d said Altman in a post on X <\/a>Wednesday. \u201cExcited to try to create a new generation of AI-powered computers.\u201d<\/p>\n

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thrilled to be partnering with jony, imo the greatest designer in the world.<\/p>\n

excited to try to create a new generation of AI-powered computers. pic.twitter.com\/IPZBNrz1jQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sam Altman (@sama) May 21, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

OpenAI and Ive\u2019s collaboration puts one of Apple\u2019s former design heads \u2014 famous for crafting many iPhones, iPods, iPads, and Apple Watches \u2014 at the forefront of the newest technology wave, generative AI. Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI has amped up its consumer business significantly. Earlier this month, the company appointed former Meta executive and Instacart CEO Fidji Simo to lead its consumer applications.<\/a><\/p>\n

Ive could help OpenAI directly compete with Apple in the consumer hardware space, putting even more pressure on the iPhone maker. In recent years, Apple has struggled to develop AI features that keep up with the latest technology from OpenAI and Google. Apple\u2019s stock fell 2% on Wednesday after the OpenAI and Ive collaboration was announced.<\/p>\n

Io has a staff of around 55 engineers, scientists, researchers, physicists, and product development specialists, per The Wall Street Journal, all of which will join OpenAI. Many of io\u2019s employees are former Apple designers \u2014 including Scott Cannon,\u00a0Evans Hankey,\u00a0and\u00a0Tang Tan \u2014 who helped build the firm\u2019s most iconic products. <\/p>\n

Ive is retaining control of his design firm, LoveFrom, which will continue to operate independently.<\/p>\n

Io, under OpenAI, will develop AI-powered consumer devices and other projects. Altman and Ive have reportedly been working on a device that moves consumers \u201cbeyond screens.\u201d Bloomberg<\/a> reports that Ive and Altman\u2019s first devices are slated to debut in 2026. The Wall Street Journal reports that Ive will have an expansive role, giving input into future versions of ChatGPT and more.<\/p>\n

OpenAI already had a 23% stake in io as part of an agreement between the companies last year, according to The New York Times<\/a>. That means OpenAI will pay $5 billion to fully acquire io, marking the ChatGPT maker\u2019s largest acquisition ever. Reportedly, the OpenAI Startup Fund made a separate investment in io last year.<\/p>\n

In a video posted by OpenAI<\/a>, Altman said the mission of io is to create a family of AI devices that will let people use AI to produce \u201call sorts of wonderful things.\u201d Ive said he\u2019s convinced that everything he\u2019s learned \u201cover the last 30 years has led me to this place and this moment.\u201d The first AI device io is working on has \u201ccompletely captured\u201d Ive\u2019s imagination, he said.<\/p>\n

The world of AI devices is still in its infancy. Altman was an early investor in Humane, another AI hardware company founded by former Apple employees, which made an AI-powered \u201cpin.\u201d After a series of stumbles, Humane was sold to HP and its devices were sunsetted<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, other form factors for AI devices have shown more promise. Meta\u2019s AI-powered smart glasses, which it\u2019s developing with the eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica, have achieved strong sales and adoption among consumers. This week, Google unveiled its version of AI smart glasses <\/a>that it\u2019s developing with Samsung, Warby Parker, and other partners.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, it\u2019s unclear what shape OpenAI\u2019s devices will take. Later in the video, Altman noted how using a laptop or smartphone to access ChatGPT was too cumbersome. Instead, the OpenAI CEO suggested he\u2019d rather use a device more integrated into his everyday life<\/p>\n

The Information<\/a> first reported on OpenAI\u2019s discussions to acquire io in March. At the time, the two companies were said to be discussing building a device that would bring a version of the technology from the movie \u201cHer\u201d to life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n