OpenAI Acquires AI Device Startup io, Co-founded by Former Apple iPhone Designer Jony Ive, for $6.4 Billion
OpenAI will fully acquire io, an AI device startup co-founded by former Apple iPhone designer Jony Ive, for $6.4 billion, a move that will propel OpenAI into the hardware sector. Following the acquisition, Ive will be integrated into OpenAI, taking on deep creative and design responsibilities for both OpenAI and io, while his creative team, Love From, will remain independent. OpenAI stated that it will pay $5 billion for the deal, as it already holds a 23% stake in the company. This acquisition marks OpenAI's largest to date, coming just weeks after the company agreed to acquire the AI-assisted coding tool Windsurf for $3 billion.