OpenAI today unexpectedly announced that it will acquire the smart device company io founded by Sir Jony Ive. OpenAI will acquire it for around $6.4 billion. With this acquisition, it also shows that OpenAI will come with a device and hardware offering soon. Ive is also expected to take responsibility for focusing design on OpenAI in parallel with this acquisition.
OpenAI previously had a 23% stake in io. This acquisition also makes it OpenAI's largest acquisition in terms of value.
Jony Ive was previously known for designing a number of iconic products under Apple, including the MacBook Air, iPhone, iPad, and even iPod, in addition to the latest Apple campus. Currently, no new products are being produced under this firm, and it is not yet known what the first product will be introduced after this acquisition. OpenAI says it will share new offerings under this acquisition next year, 2026.