Jony Ive Joins OpenAI in Groundbreaking $6.5 Billion Partnership

Tue Oct 21 2025 03:29:12 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The renowned iPhone designer teams up with OpenAI to revolutionize AI-powered technology and create a new range of devices.

Sir Jony Ive, famous for his influential designs at Apple, is joining OpenAI in a significant $6.5 billion acquisition of his startup, io. Both parties aim to reshape computer usage and introduce fresh AI-driven products that could redefine consumer technology.

Sir Jony Ive, the acclaimed British designer known for creating some of Apple's most iconic products, is making headlines with his new venture into the world of artificial intelligence. OpenAI, the developer of the AI tool ChatGPT, has announced the acquisition of ive's startup, io, in a substantial deal valued at $6.5 billion (£4.7 billion). Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, expressed his excitement about collaborating with what he deemed "the greatest designer in the world," stating their aim is to engineer a new generation of AI-infused computers.

Sir Jony played a crucial role in shaping the look and feel of Apple's most successful devices, including the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, during his 27-year tenure at the company. After departing Apple in 2019, he founded the design firm LoveFrom, which worked quietly with OpenAI for two years before the merger announcement. Both Sir Jony and Altman believe they stand on the brink of launching a new family of technological products that will allure consumers and reshape the computing landscape.

Altman shared that he had a sneak peek of a prototype device created by Ive's team, boasting it as "the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen." The challenge of integrating cutting-edge AI with viable and appealing hardware has previously hindered many initiatives, but Altman remains optimistic about their partnership's potential to innovate and engage users directly, sidestepping reliance on industry competitors like Apple and Google.

Analysts are skeptical yet hopeful, with some suggesting that betting against a designer of Ive’s caliber could be a blunder, given his history of delivering disruptive products. This acquisition marks a pivotal moment as OpenAI seeks to enhance its relationship with consumers while entering the hardware market dominated by tech giants investing in AI advancements. As excitement swells around this development, many anticipate the upcoming wave of innovative AI-driven devices from the collaboration of Sir Jony Ive and OpenAI.