OpenAI’s $6.5B deal brings Apple’s legendary designer Jony Ive onboard

OpenAI has acquired io, a startup led by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in an all-equity deal valued at $6.5 billion. As part of the arrangement announced Wednesday, Ive and his design firm, LoveFrom, will lead OpenAI’s creative and design work.

“Thrilled to be partnering with Jony, I think he’s the greatest designer in the world,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared on X (formerly Twitter). “Excited to try and create a new generation of AI-powered computers.”

“AI is an incredible technology, but great tools require work at the intersection of technology, design, and understanding people and the world. No one can do this like Jony and his team; the amount of care they put into every aspect of the process is extraordinary,” Altman said.

“I have a growing sense that everything I have learned over the last 30 years has led me to this moment. While I am both anxious and excited about the responsibility of the substantial work ahead, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an important collaboration. The values and vision of Sam and the teams at OpenAI and io are a rare inspiration.”

-Jony Ive

Video credit: Sam Altman

Altman’s post included a link to a tweet from Ive, which read: “Excited to be partnering with OpenAI to explore new creative avenues. Looking forward to this.”

The deal signifies OpenAI’s investment in design as it develops new consumer-facing products and interfaces. Details regarding the structure of the collaboration and the specific projects LoveFrom will be involved in remain limited.

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