Washington DC (TDI): OpenAI has announced a landmark partnership with Sir Jony Ive, the world-renowned designer behind Apple’s most iconic products, in a bold move to reimagine the role of computers in the AI era.
The company will acquire Ive’s startup, io, in a deal valued at $6.5 billion. This collaboration marks a new chapter in the convergence of artificial intelligence and innovative hardware design.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, expressed his excitement, calling Ive the “greatest designer in the world.” The partnership aims to address a crucial gap in the current tech landscape: the lack of hardware that truly complements advanced AI systems.
With Sir Jony assuming deep design and creative responsibilities across OpenAI, the joint effort seeks to create a completely new generation of AI-native devices.
Sam & Jony introduce io pic.twitter.com/ej5K59kJq3
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 21, 2025
“For the first time in decades, we have a real opportunity to reimagine what it means to use a computer,” Altman said. “I’ve seen the first prototype, and I believe it’s the most exciting piece of technology the world has ever seen.”
Sir Jony Ive, who revolutionized consumer electronics with the design of the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, described this moment as the beginning of a new technological era.
He stated that their first collaborative project has “captured our imagination” and hinted at transformative outcomes that could reshape everyday interactions with technology.
This venture builds on a two-year collaboration between OpenAI and LoveFrom, the creative firm Sir Jony founded after leaving Apple in 2019. The creation of io was born from this partnership, and OpenAI previously held a 23% stake in the startup.
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The move comes amid growing competition in AI-integrated devices, with tech giants like Google, Meta, and Apple investing in new products such as smart headsets and wearables. Despite past challenges faced by other AI hardware startups, industry analysts remain optimistic.
“It would be foolish to bet against Jony Ive,” said Ben Wood, Chief Analyst at CCS Insight. “His track record of market disruption speaks for itself.”
As OpenAI expands beyond software, the union with Sir Jony signals a future where artificial intelligence and product design are no longer separate fields, but seamlessly integrated to change the way we live, work, and interact with machines.
Areeba Kanwal is a contributor at The Diplomatic Insight and has passion for International Relations and diplomacy.
