OpenAI has announced its acquisition of io, a hardware AI startup co-founded by design icon Jony Ive, in a stock-based deal estimated at approximately $6.5 billion. This strategic move brings aboard approximately 55 hardware engineers, software developers, and manufacturing specialists who will join forces with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Together, they aim to innovate a suite of AI-powered devices, with the initial product slated for a 2026 debut. Having collaborated on the io project for two years, Ive and Altman are eager to bridge market gaps through groundbreaking advancements.
