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Following its formal announcement in May, OpenAI has now confirmed the acquisition of io, the innovative startup founded by former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive. The two entities will collaborate to develop a new generation of AI-powered devices, aiming to redefine the future of human-technology interaction.
As part of the deal, Jony Ive’s design studio, LoveFrom, will remain an independent entity and will not be absorbed into OpenAI. However, the io team—including co-founders Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey, Tang Tan, and approximately 50 engineers, designers, and researchers—has officially joined OpenAI and is expected to work closely with its internal teams to accelerate AI hardware development.
According to previous statements by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Jony Ive, the partnership is focused on creating a series of AI devices “designed for everyone.” The first product is envisioned as an unobtrusive, portable, and environmentally aware smart device capable of intuitively sensing user behavior. While specific details remain undisclosed, both Altman and Ive have clarified that the device will not resemble a smartphone or smart glasses—signaling a deliberate departure from traditional consumer electronics design and the birth of an entirely new device category.
Jony Ive, renowned for his iconic collaborations with the late Steve Jobs on the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, has long been a central figure in modern technology design. Since departing Apple in 2019 to establish LoveFrom, Ive has contributed to a variety of design projects for leading companies. This collaboration with OpenAI represents his most ambitious product development initiative in recent years and marks a significant shift—from designing standalone hardware to exploring the integration of AI and physical devices.
For OpenAI, this acquisition signals a strategic expansion beyond its roots in software and AI services. From ChatGPT and the GPT API to rumors of an AI browser and now a groundbreaking smart device, OpenAI is clearly intent on shaping the hardware landscape of the AI era. This move positions the company to compete directly with industry titans like Google, Apple, and Microsoft in the consumer market.
While the precise role and function of the upcoming device remain a topic of speculation, some analysts believe it will focus on intelligent assistance and personal AI agents—bringing generative AI beyond virtual conversations into a more seamless, real-world interactive experience.
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