OpenAI is making its boldest hardware play yet, acquiring io—the AI devices startup founded by legendary iPhone designer Jony Ive—for $6.5 billion. The all-stock deal, OpenAI’s largest to date, brings together the creative force behind Apple’s most iconic products with the AI giant’s technical prowess, signaling a serious move into consumer devices that could redefine how we interact with technology.

Design Meets Next-Gen AI: OpenAI’s Hardware Ambitions Get Real

OpenAI’s acquisition of io isn’t just about bringing in top talent; it’s about building a dedicated hardware division that can turn generative AI into tangible products for everyday use.

• The io team—55 engineers, designers, and researchers, many with Apple pedigrees—will join OpenAI, forming a new hardware unit in San Francisco.

• Jony Ive and his design consultancy, LoveFrom, will oversee creative direction for both OpenAI and io, shaping everything from future ChatGPT iterations to new AI-powered devices.

• While details are closely guarded, reports suggest the first products could move consumers “beyond screens,” with concepts like headphones or camera-equipped devices in the mix.

• The goal: devices that are “less socially disruptive than the iPhone,” aiming to integrate AI seamlessly into daily life.

From iPhone to AI-First Devices: Jony Ive’s New Chapter

Jony Ive, whose design vision helped make the iPhone, iMac, and iPod cultural phenomena, is now tasked with inventing the next interface for the AI era.

• Ive founded io in 2024 after leaving Apple and has been collaborating quietly with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for two years.

• Ive will not become a direct OpenAI employee but will take on “significant creative and design responsibilities” across the company’s product lines.

• LoveFrom, Ive’s design firm, remains independent but will work closely with OpenAI on all new hardware and software experiences.

• In a statement, Altman called Ive’s team “the best in the world” at fusing technology, design, and human understanding, saying, “No one can do this like Jony and his team; the amount of care they put into every aspect of the process is extraordinary”.

Beyond Screens: What’s Next for AI Devices

The deal comes as the tech industry searches for the next big leap in consumer hardware—one that could make AI as ubiquitous as the smartphone, but less intrusive.

• OpenAI’s move follows recent stumbles in the AI device market, such as Humane’s AI Pin, highlighting the challenge of designing useful, desirable AI-first products.

• The partnership aims to avoid these pitfalls by focusing on “delight, wonder, and creative spirit,” with a device that empowers rather than distracts.

• First products from the OpenAI-io collaboration are expected as early as 2026, with the company hinting at a family of devices—not just a single flagship.

• The acquisition also intensifies competition with Apple, which has faced criticism for lagging behind in consumer AI innovation.

Rolling Credits: Why This Deal Matters for the Industry

OpenAI’s $6.5 billion bet on Jony Ive and io marks a pivotal moment: AI leaders are no longer content to live inside apps—they’re coming for your pocket, your desk, and your daily workflow.

• For film and media professionals, this signals a future where AI-powered tools could become as integral—and as elegantly designed—as the iPhone was for mobile creativity.

• The move could accelerate the shift toward “invisible” interfaces, where AI augments tasks without demanding constant screen time or attention.

• As OpenAI and Ive set out to “inspire, empower, and enable,” expect ripple effects across creative industries—raising the bar for what’s possible at the intersection of design and intelligence.

• The next act: watching how this new hardware vision unfolds, and how quickly it reshapes expectations for both consumers and creators.