A New Era of AI-Powered Devices That See, Think, and Inspire
- Jony Ive, the iconic Apple designer, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, have merged their visionary startup io with OpenAI in a landmark $6.5 billion all-equity deal, aiming to create groundbreaking AI-powered consumer devices.
- The collaboration, built on years of friendship and shared values, seeks to move beyond traditional screens and interfaces, introducing a family of products that inspire, empower, and enable users in unprecedented ways.
- With Ive leading design and creative efforts across OpenAI and io, the partnership promises to redefine how we interact with technology, with the first devices expected to debut in 2026.
In a world where technology often feels stagnant despite its rapid advancements, a seismic shift is on the horizon. Computers are no longer just tools; they are beginning to see, think, and understand. Yet, our interactions with these powerful machines remain tethered to familiar products and interfaces—keyboards, screens, and touchpads. Enter io, a revolutionary venture born from the creative genius of Jony Ive and the innovative spirit of Sam Altman, now merging with OpenAI in a historic $6.5 billion deal. This collaboration, announced on Wednesday, marks an extraordinary moment in the evolution of consumer technology, promising a future where AI transcends the screen and integrates seamlessly into our lives.
The story of io began two years ago, when Jony Ive, the legendary designer behind iconic Apple products like the iPhone and Apple Watch, quietly partnered with Sam Altman and the team at OpenAI. What started as a collaboration rooted in friendship, curiosity, and shared values quickly blossomed into something far more ambitious. Tentative ideas morphed into tangible designs—concepts so inspiring and hopeful that they evoked smiles and a sense of wonder reminiscent of humanity’s greatest technological achievements. These early explorations reminded everyone involved of a time when new tools were celebrated for their ability to help us learn, explore, and create. It became clear that realizing these ambitious visions required more than a partnership; it demanded an entirely new company. Thus, one year ago, Ive founded io alongside Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey, and Tang Tan, bringing together a dream team of hardware and software engineers, technologists, physicists, scientists, and product development experts—many of whom had worked closely for decades, including at Apple.
The mission of io is as bold as it is inspiring: to develop products that empower and enable users through AI. With a staff of around 55 specialists, including many former Apple designers who crafted some of the most iconic consumer products in history, io has now merged with OpenAI to work more intimately with the research, engineering, and product teams in San Francisco. This merger isn’t just a business transaction; it’s a fusion of creative and technological prowess. As part of the deal, Ive and his design firm, LoveFrom, will assume deep design and creative responsibilities across both OpenAI and io, while LoveFrom continues to operate independently. Altman, in a post on X, expressed his thrill at partnering with Ive, whom he called “the greatest designer in the world,” and shared his excitement to create a new generation of AI-powered computers. In a video released by OpenAI, Ive himself reflected on the journey, stating that everything he’s learned over the past 30 years has led him to this moment, with the first AI device io is working on having “completely captured” his imagination.
What sets this collaboration apart is its audacious goal to move beyond traditional interfaces. Altman has openly criticized the cumbersome nature of accessing AI through laptops or smartphones, envisioning instead devices that are more integrated into everyday life. Reports suggest that Ive and Altman have been working on a device that could bring to life the kind of technology depicted in the movie “Her”—a seamless, intuitive interaction with AI that feels natural and personal. While the exact form of these devices remains a mystery, the industry is abuzz with speculation. The first products from this partnership are slated for a 2026 debut, and if the track record of the minds behind io and OpenAI is any indication, they will likely redefine how we engage with technology. Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal report that Ive will have an expansive role, not only shaping hardware but also providing input into future versions of ChatGPT and other OpenAI initiatives.
This merger also positions OpenAI to directly challenge tech giants like Apple in the consumer hardware space. Apple, which has struggled in recent years to keep pace with AI advancements from OpenAI and Google, saw its stock dip 2% following the announcement of this collaboration. With Ive—a former Apple design head famous for crafting the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Apple Watch—now at the forefront of OpenAI’s design efforts, the pressure on Apple intensifies. OpenAI, which has significantly ramped up its consumer business since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, is already a leader in generative AI. Earlier this month, the company appointed Fidji Simo, a former Meta executive and Instacart CEO, to lead its consumer applications, signaling a clear focus on user-facing innovation. Now, with io’s team of 55 engineers and researchers joining forces with OpenAI, and with a prior 23% stake in io (part of an agreement last year) culminating in a $5 billion acquisition—the largest in OpenAI’s history—the stage is set for a transformative leap in AI hardware.
The broader landscape of AI devices is still in its infancy, and not all experiments have succeeded. Altman, an early investor in Humane, another AI hardware company founded by former Apple employees, saw that venture stumble with its AI-powered “pin” before being sold to HP and sunsetted. However, other form factors show promise. Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses, developed with EssilorLuxottica, have gained strong consumer adoption, while Google recently unveiled its own AI smart glasses in partnership with Samsung and Warby Parker. These developments suggest that wearable, integrated AI devices could be the future, and OpenAI’s entry into this space with io’s expertise could be a game-changer. Altman’s vision, as articulated in the OpenAI video, is clear: a family of AI devices that allow people to produce “all sorts of wonderful things” in ways that feel effortless and intuitive.
Ultimately, the merger of io with OpenAI is more than a business deal; it’s a statement of intent to reshape the future of technology. With Jony Ive’s unparalleled design sensibility and Sam Altman’s pioneering work in AI, this partnership holds the potential to create tools that don’t just solve problems but inspire awe and optimism. As we await the unveiling of their first devices in 2026, one thing is certain: this collaboration is poised to remind us why we celebrate human achievement in the first place. It’s a rare and exciting moment when technology feels not just useful, but truly extraordinary.