OpenAI just dropped $6.5 billion to snag Jony Ive’s io startup, betting big on a screenless AI future. The iPhone design guru joins forces with Sam Altman’s crew, bringing 55 employees to form a new hardware division. Apple’s stock took a 2% hit – ouch. With AI spending projected to hit $644 billion by 2025, this power move signals a major shift in how we’ll interact with technology. The real story? It’s all about what happens when design genius meets artificial intelligence.
While tech giants scramble to build the next big thing in AI, OpenAI just dropped a $5 billion bombshell. The company’s acquiring io, the secretive startup co-founded by legendary Apple designer Jony Ive, in a deal valued at $6.5 billion. Talk about making a statement.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect – or more threatening to Apple. Ive, the mastermind behind the iPhone, iPad, and pretty much every other iconic Apple product you can think of, is stepping into a central creative role at OpenAI. With new products in 2026, the tech world is holding its breath. And yes, Apple’s stock dropped 2% on Wednesday. Ouch.
But here’s where it gets interesting. OpenAI isn’t merely buying fancy design talent – they’re betting big on a future where screens, keyboards, and mice might become relics. Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, is already hyping their upcoming products as “the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen.” Bold words from a company that’s already reshaping how we think about AI.
The deal brings 55 io employees under OpenAI’s roof, forming a new hardware division led by Peter Welinder. Meanwhile, Ive gets to keep his design consultancy LoveFrom independent. Smart move – why put all your eggs in one basket? His design firm LoveFrom has already worked with various brands, including OpenAI, making this partnership a natural evolution.
With global generative AI spending expected to hit $644 billion by 2025, this isn’t merely another tech acquisition – it’s a power play. OpenAI is positioning itself to dominate not merely AI software, but the very devices we’ll use to interact with AI.
And they’re not alone in this race – Google, Meta, and Apple are all scrambling to define the next era of computing.
The first products won’t hit shelves until 2026, but industry analysts are already calling this an inflection point for user experiences. Whatever Ive and OpenAI are cooking up, it’s clear they’re aiming to reinvent how humans interact with computers. Again. Because apparently, screens are so 2023.
