OpenAI announced it would acquire and merge with io, the AI device startup founded by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive and colleagues. The all-equity deal was reported to be worth roughly $6.4-6.5 billion, OpenAI's largest acquisition to date. io's team of about 55 people joined OpenAI, while Ive and his design firm LoveFrom remained independent but took on deep design responsibilities across OpenAI and io. The move drew attention as OpenAI's full-scale entry into dedicated AI hardware.
21May 2025
OpenAI announces acquisition of Jony Ive's device startup io
The acquisition itself was officially announced by both parties, but OpenAI did not disclose the price; the roughly $6.4 billion (CNBC) to $6.5 billion figure is based on multiple major media reports.