OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive's AI Device Startup for $6.5 Billion

by MarketNewsData

OpenAI has agreed to acquire the AI device startup launched by former Apple design chief Jony Ive for $6.5 billion, in a major move that signals its ambitions to expand beyond software.

The startup, created in partnership with SoftBank and former Apple engineers, has been developing an AI-powered consumer device focused on personal assistance and contextual computing. Details of the product remain under wraps, but reports suggest it could rival smartphones by using natural language and ambient intelligence instead of screens and apps.

Key Details:

  • Deal Value: $6.5 billion in cash and stock
  • Buyer: OpenAI, known for ChatGPT and GPT-4
  • Seller: Jony Ive’s startup, backed by SoftBank
  • Product Goal: A next-gen AI hardware interface designed from the ground up

Jony Ive, the designer behind the iPhone and MacBook, has long advocated for more human-centered technology. This acquisition gives OpenAI an industrial design and hardware edge as it seeks to integrate its generative models into everyday physical products.

Why It Matters:

  • OpenAI is shifting from pure software to full-stack AI experiences, controlling both the model and the device.
  • This move could position OpenAI as a rival to Apple, Google, and Amazon in the race for the next personal computing platform.

The deal also reflects growing belief in the future of AI-native hardware, where the interface is conversational, invisible, and embedded into daily life.

This is OpenAI’s biggest acquisition to date—and a sign that AI may soon move off your screen and into your surroundings

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