^{Photo: NPR}

In one of the boldest moves yet in the artificial intelligence space, OpenAI has officially acquired io, the AI hardware startup led by Jony Ive, the legendary designer behind Apple’s most iconic products. The $6.4 billion deal marks a significant shift in OpenAI’s ambitions—from software powerhouse to consumer hardware innovator.

The acquisition was confirmed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who referred to Ive as “the greatest designer in the world,” echoing sentiments once shared by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who famously called Ive his “spiritual partner.” Altman is now entrusting him with the mission to lead OpenAI’s hardware design revolution.

Why This Deal Matters: AI Meets Industrial Design

This isn’t just a splashy acquisition—it’s a signal that OpenAI wants to redefine how people interact with AI in the real world. Rather than simply using ChatGPT in a browser, the goal is to embed AI more naturally into everyday life.

Ive’s role? To create devices that move beyond screens and keyboards. According to sources from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, the goal is to develop a new category of AI-powered consumer products that could replace the smartphone as we know it. They are specifically aiming for tech that is less socially disruptive than the iPhone and more integrated into human behavior—possibly even screenless.

The Power Duo: Altman & Ive

The roots of this partnership stretch back nearly two years. In 2023, Altman and Ive began discussions about building a new AI hardware device that could become the iPhone of AI, a product so intuitive it would feel like magic.

Altman, who previously invested in the AI wearable startup Humane, seems determined to learn from Humane’s mistakes. Humane’s much-hyped AI Pin, a voice-first, screenless wearable device, failed to catch on with users after its release in 2023 and the company halted operations in early 2025.

In contrast, Altman and Ive are reportedly exploring a slightly larger, neck-worn AI device with no display—something akin to AirPods, but focused on delivering voice-based AI assistance. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared on social platform X that this device could enter production by 2027.

Jony Ive: The Man Who Made Apple Iconic

Now 58, Ive’s fingerprints are all over Apple’s legacy. Over a nearly 30-year career, he was responsible for the sleek design of the iMac, MacBook, iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods. His design approach transformed Apple into the world’s most valuable company and reshaped how humans interact with technology.

After leaving Apple in 2019, Ive launched his independent firm LoveFrom, with a client list that includes Airbnb and Ferrari. Analysts from Deutsche Bank at the time called his departure “a massive loss” for Apple’s innovation pipeline.

But for Ive, working on futuristic, undefined categories has always been the thrill. In a 2005 interview with the British Council’s Design Museum, he said,

“The opportunity to work within such a relatively new product category is remarkable… One product can instantly upend decades of expectations.”

He cited the iPod as a prime example of turning conventional user experience on its head.

What’s Next: A New Era for AI and Devices

While the full roadmap for OpenAI and Ive’s collaboration is still under wraps, one thing is clear: this isn’t just about launching a gadget. It’s about redefining human-machine interaction.

Ive’s influence, combined with Altman’s ambition and OpenAI’s powerful AI models like ChatGPT and GPT-5, could produce devices that are ambient, context-aware, and screenless—blending seamlessly into daily life rather than disrupting it.

This move positions OpenAI not just as an AI leader, but as a future consumer tech titan—a direct challenge to the likes of Apple, Google, and Amazon.

And with $6.4 billion now committed to making that vision real, the next great shift in tech may have just begun.