San Francisco: Sir Jony Ive, the influential British designer responsible for the iconic look of Apple’s most successful products, including the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, is joining OpenAI following a $6.5 billion (£4.7 billion) acquisition of his startup, io.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, expressed his enthusiasm about working with Ive, calling him ‘the greatest designer in the world’ and highlighting their shared vision to create a new generation of AI-powered computers.
The collaboration will see Ive assume deep design and creative responsibilities across OpenAI, aiming to reimagine computing through innovative hardware.
Sam & Jony introduce io pic.twitter.com/ej5K59kJq3
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 21, 2025
While AI software, especially tools like ChatGPT, has rapidly advanced in recent years, developing hardware tailored for AI has been a significant challenge, with previous attempts largely failing to attract consumers and facing critical reviews. Nevertheless, Altman remains confident this partnership will succeed where others have struggled.
The duo revealed they are already working on a prototype device that has ‘completely captured their imagination.’ Altman described this new technology as potentially ‘the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen.’
Johny Ive at Apple
Ive, who spent 27 years at Apple helping to revive the company with revolutionary products, left Apple in 2019, with then-CEO Tim Cook calling him ‘a singular figure in the design world,’ whose contributions to Apple’s revival ‘cannot be overstated.’
Following his departure, Ive founded LoveFrom, a design company that quietly collaborated with OpenAI for two years before creating io last year to focus on engineering and manufacturing this new family of products.
Before the acquisition, OpenAI held a 23 percent stake in io, reflecting the companies’ close relationship. Industry experts like Ben Wood of CCS Insight believe it would be unwise to bet against Ive’s remarkable track record for delivering market-disrupting products.
Meanwhile, Justin McGuirk from the UK’s Design Museum praised Ive for bringing ‘serious design credibility’ to OpenAI’s hardware ambitions, especially amid skepticism over the need for AI-based devices.
OpenAI’s hardware venture comes amid a competitive landscape where major tech companies such as Meta, Google, and Apple are investing heavily in AI-powered devices like headsets and smart glasses. Other startups, like Humane AI and Rabbit, have struggled with early AI device launches, facing criticism for issues like battery life, heat, functionality, and cost.
OpenAI’s rapid rise began with the 2022 launch of ChatGPT, which ignited a wave of AI investment and expanded into areas like shopping and search, challenging established tech giants.
With Ive’s design expertise, OpenAI aims to break new ground in AI hardware, establishing a closer relationship with customers beyond software services delivered via devices made by Apple, Google, and others.
Shares in Apple dropped more than 2 percent following news of Ive’s partnership with OpenAI, reflecting the industry impact of this significant move. Together, Altman and Ive are poised to reshape the future of technology, blending cutting-edge AI with world-class design to usher in a new era of intelligent devices.
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