Sir Jony Ive, the legendary designer behind Apple’s most iconic products, has officially joined OpenAI in a landmark $6.5 billion acquisition of his AI hardware startup, io. Ive, who left Apple in 2019 after a 27-year tenure that saw him shape the iPhone, iPod, and MacBook Air, brings his renowned design sensibilities to the forefront of artificial intelligence hardware innovation. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, and Ive have been collaborating quietly since 2023, culminating in this deal that positions OpenAI to make a major push into physical AI devices.

The acquisition means OpenAI will fully integrate io, a company co-founded by Ive and several former Apple colleagues, into its operations. While OpenAI had previously acquired a 23% stake in io, the new agreement secures the remaining shares, making this OpenAI’s largest purchase to date. Ive’s design collective, LoveFrom, will remain independent but assume deep creative and design responsibilities across both OpenAI and io, overseeing the development of a new family of AI-powered products. Peter Welinder, a longtime OpenAI executive, will lead the new io division, focusing on hardware, robotics, and early-stage research.

Although specific product details remain under wraps, industry analysts expect the collaboration to yield “physical AI embodiments”—devices that bring generative AI beyond screens and into everyday life, possibly in forms like smart eyewear, jewelry, or even robotics. Altman has hinted at ambitions to “completely rethink what it means to utilize a computer,” suggesting a vision for AI hardware that is less socially disruptive than the smartphone. This strategic move comes as the tech sector seeks its next major hardware breakthrough, with OpenAI aiming to outpace competitors like Apple, Google, and Anthropic in the race to integrate AI into consumer products.

Ive’s arrival signals a significant shift for OpenAI, which has rapidly expanded its hardware ambitions in recent years. The company, recently valued at $300 billion, has made a series of acquisitions to bolster its capabilities, including robotics and analytics startups. With Ive at the helm of design, OpenAI is poised to set a new standard for the intersection of AI and industrial design, leveraging his legacy of blending technological innovation with elegant, user-friendly aesthetics.