OpenAI Bets Big on AI Hardware With $6.5B Jony Ive Deal

AI Meets Industrial Design Royalty

OpenAI is set to acquire a consumer device startup launched by renowned former Apple design chief Jony Ive in a $6.5 billion deal, a bold move signaling the AI powerhouse’s expansion beyond software. The acquisition, first reported by Bloomberg, brings together Ive’s legendary product design instinct—responsible for iconic devices like the iPhone and MacBook—with OpenAI’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence models, including ChatGPT. The deal is backed by major investor SoftBank and hints at a greater pivot by OpenAI to create next-generation hardware devices that are natively integrated with advanced AI. By combining AI-centric design with user-centric hardware, OpenAI aims to make its technology more accessible and seamless in everyday life.

Challenging the Tech Titans

This acquisition sends a clear signal that OpenAI isn’t content with remaining behind the scenes of apps and APIs—it wants a seat at the table with Apple, Google, and Microsoft in the consumer hardware arena. Ive’s new venture, Humane, has explored wearable and ambient computing devices, and its integration into OpenAI’s strategy reflects a desire to build entirely new product categories. While neither OpenAI nor Ive have confirmed specific devices on the roadmap, the financial investment and pedigree of the players suggest serious intentions. The combination of elegant industrial design and deeply integrated AI could set the stage for a new generation of devices where AI is not just embedded, but central to how people interact with technology.