Openai buys a secret startup of legendary Apple designer Johni Iva and preparing to release shi devices

Openai has announced an agreement for almost $ 6.5 billion to purchase a mysterious IO startup based on a legendary designer Johni Aivo, who worked on most modern Apple products. This is the biggest purchase in Openai’s story that opens her way to devices based on artificial intelligence, reports Bloomberg.

The agreement consists of $ 5 billion of additional OpenAi shares in exchange for the startup IO, the rest of the amount arises from the partnership concluded at the end of last year, when Openai purchased 23% of IO. The transaction is expected this summer after receiving the required permits.

OpenAi CEO, Sam Altman, said IO purchase will allow you to create a « future device » optimized for artificial intelligence. « AI is a huge jump in what people can do, and it needs a new computer form, » he said.

Johni Aiv, who was responsible for the design of the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch from 1996 to 2019, also expressed optimism: « Everything I learned in 30 years has led me to this point. Our cooperation will give a series of products that have not yet been. »

After closing the agreement, about 55 hardware engineers, developers and specialists in IO office in San Francisco will join OpenAi. These teams, many of which have worked on Apple’s iconic products, will develop new SI devices. According to Altman and quince, the first sketches of new devices have been developed for over two years, and the launch of the first of them is planned for 2026.

Another quince business, LOVEFROM Design Studio, will remain independent, but will take on all Openai design, including Chatgpt interface. According to Iva, LOVEFROM has several former Apple designers who helped to create an interface of Mac and iPhone operating systems. LoveFrom will continue to work with companies such as Ferrari and Airbnb, but will not attract new big customers.

The IO startup has previously received funding from EMERSON COLLECTIVE, SUTER HILL Ventures, Thrive Capital, Maverick Capital and others. IV founded IO last year with the former Apple staff Scott Kennon, Evans Genki and Tan Tan.

The advertisement of the Agreement led to the fall of Apple’s shares by 2.3%, as analysts noted that this exacerbated competition in the SI-device segment, where Apple seeks to become a leader.

Openai, estimated at about $ 300 billion, develops not only as a supplier of cloud services, but also through strategic acquisitions. In addition to IO, the company is considering also a purchase Windsurf Shi For about $ 3 billion, OpenAi has appointed the former CEO Instacart Fiji Simo’s former CEO Instacart, so that Altman can focus on the hardware strategy.

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