iPhone, iMac design legend Jony Ive joins OpenAI, Apple sweating bullets

OpenAI just teamed up with Jony Ive to build “the coolest tech ever” — and Apple’s not thrilled

OpenAI is getting into hardware in a big way, and it’s bringing Apple’s design legend Jony Ive along for the ride. The design legend who practically shaped Apple devices like the iPhone, iMac, MacBooks, AirPods and the Apple Watch is now working with Sam Altman to reimagine how we interact with AI — and it’s already making waves.

A $6.5 billion deal and a mystery prototype

Ive’s startup, LoveFrom, is now part of OpenAI following a $6.5 billion acquisition. The new entity will be called ‘io’.

The announcement came via a video featuring Sam Altman, who called the secret prototype “the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen.” The full reveal is expected sometime next year, but the excitement is already building.

In the video, Ive didn’t mince words. “The products we’re using today to connect with tech are decades old,” he said, referring to phones, laptops, and wearables.

He and Altman believe AI needs a completely new form factor — something more intuitive, seamless, and futuristic than a screen and keyboard.

Apple should be worried

The news sent Apple shares down more than 2%. Analysts say it’s a clear sign that OpenAI is trying to build a full-stack hardware ecosystem, just like Apple did. And with Apple lagging in rolling out advanced AI features, it’s not hard to see why investors are uneasy.

AI-native hardware is the next big frontier

OpenAI isn’t alone here. Meta has its smart glasses. Humane’s AI Pin flopped, but it tried. Rabbit’s R1 sold over 100,000 units. Now, OpenAI is aiming higher — with better design, better integration, and way more ambition.

If anyone can crack what AI-native devices should look and feel like, it might just be Jony Ive.