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OpenAI Finalizes Deal for Jony Ive's 'io' AI Hardware Company

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OpenAI has completed its acquisition of Jony Ive's AI startup io Products, OpenAI said today in a letter from CEO Sam Altman and Ive.

ive-and-altman.jpg

The io Products team has now officially merged with OpenAI, though Jony Ive and his LoveFrom design firm remain independent. Ive and LoveFrom have taken over "deep design and creative responsibilities" at OpenAI. OpenAI paid an estimated $6.5 billion for io.

OpenAI first announced plans to purchase Jony Ive's startup back in May, and at the time, the two shared a video on their future plans. Ive and Altman are creating a new family of AI devices. "The products that we're using to deliver and connect us to unimaginable technology, they're decades old," said Jony Ive in the acquisition announcement. "It's just common sense to at least think surely there's something beyond these legacy products."

Ive will design the AI device that OpenAI will eventually launch, and several former Apple design employees who co-founded io with Ive are also moving to OpenAI. While Ive provides design, OpenAI will handle the AI expertise.

Recent information indicates that Ive and Altman's first device won't be an in-ear device or wearable, and will instead sit in a pocket or on a desk alongside a Mac and an iPhone. Other rumors suggest that the pocket-sized product will be contextually aware of the wearer's surroundings and life, providing insight screen-free.

Article Link: OpenAI Finalizes Deal for Jony Ive's 'io' AI Hardware Company
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/07/09/openai-jony-ive-io-acquisition-complete/
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Reactions: UpsideDownEclair
I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again: there’s nothing that they can make that can’t be done by a current phone or in the very next generation after they launch their product.

The only way for this device to succeed is a marketing miracle, because there’s nothing that can’t be done by the damn thing we already carry around.

Do you want a phone and a doodad, or just your phone?
 
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Reactions: rymc02, Ben Sparrow, Analog Kid and 9 others
Recent information indicates that Ive and Altman's first device won't be an in-ear device or wearable, and will instead sit in a pocket or on a desk alongside a Mac and an iPhone.
Click to expand...

This sounds incredibly dumb. What magical hardware or sensors could this device possibly have that couldn’t be integrated into future phones, smart speakers, etc?

Nobody wants to plonk yet another device in their pocket or on their desk without a very good reason. If OpenAI wants a Trojan horse for mass data collection, then it at least needs to be a product with a compelling purpose that people want to buy for other reasons.

Is the problem here that OpenAI have got too much money that they don’t know what to do with?

On the other hand, hats off to you Jony, what an incredible pay day!
 
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Reactions: aylk, CatalinApple, Ben Sparrow and 4 others
Forget carrying another device in my pocket, but more importantly, has anyone seen that creepy video? Maybe I’m just getting old, but do I really want to know, or do any of you want others to know exactly where you are, what you’re doing, how many texts you’ve sent, and every detail of your movements? Talk about an advertising bonanza with all that data. 😵‍💫
 
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Reactions: CatalinApple, Ben Sparrow, TheLunaPark and 1 other person
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