Open AI’s $6.5 Billion Acquisition of Jony Ive’s io Sparks Tech Industry Buzz
Open AI’s $6.5 Billion Acquisition of Jony Ive’s io Sparks Tech Industry Buzz
OpenAI , the company behind ChatGPT, announced a major move: acquiring io , a secretive startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman . The deal, valued at $6.5 billion , has drawn attention not only for its size but also for its key players — including Laurene Powell Jobs , widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Powell Jobs, who has a net worth of over $14 billion , is the founder of investment firm Emerson Collective . She invested in both of Ive’s post-Apple ventures — LoveFrom (a design consultancy) and io — reportedly putting more than $1 billion into the projects.
In a recent interview with The Financial Times , Ive and Powell Jobs reflected on their time working with Steve Jobs and discussed the unintended consequences of tech innovation. Ive admitted that while innovation often brings unforeseen results — some positive, some harmful — he feels a responsibility to “try and be useful.”
He also explained his motivation for collaborating with OpenAI and Altman: “Humanity deserves better.”
Powell Jobs echoed these concerns, pointing to rising mental health issues among young people as an example of how technology can have unintended negative impacts — even when designed with good intentions.
Meanwhile, analysts are speculating about the nature of the AI product Ive and OpenAI are developing. Some believe it could be a screenless AI device , possibly resembling a next-generation communication tool or wearable.
Given Ive’s deep history with Apple, some experts suggest this partnership should raise eyebrows at Apple HQ — especially as the tech giant continues to push forward with its own AI initiatives.
