Ex-Apple Visionary Jony Ive Partners with OpenAI, Raising Eyebrows

Ex-Apple Visionary Jony Ive Partners with OpenAI, Raising Eyebrows

Last week, OpenAI — the company behind ChatGPT — announced its acquisition of LoveFrom , the design studio founded by Jony Ive, the former Apple chief designer known for shaping iconic products like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. As part of the deal, Ive and his team will now join OpenAI to lead the design of its upcoming AI-powered hardware.

Although Ive left Apple in 2019, he maintained strong ties with the company. Now, his move to OpenAI has raised eyebrows — especially as CEO Sam Altman praised him as “the greatest designer in the world” and hinted at developing a new generation of AI-driven computing devices.

While OpenAI hasn’t confirmed plans to build products that directly compete with Apple, rumors suggest Ive is working on a screenless, voice-controlled AI device that could one day replace smartphones. This aligns with growing concerns inside Apple, where executives reportedly worry about the future of the iPhone in an AI-dominated market.

In fact, during recent antitrust hearings, Apple executive Eddy Cue admitted that in 10 years, users might no longer need a smartphone — a shift that OpenAI may be aiming to accelerate.

Whether this partnership marks the start of a new era in AI hardware or just another bold experiment remains to be seen. But for Apple, it’s definitely a moment worth watching closely.