# Jony Ive Joins OpenAI: A New Era for Generative AI Design
Welcome to the latest news in the world of technology! Today, we’re excited to share that Apple’s legendary designer, Jony Ive, is set to lead OpenAI’s design work following a whopping $6.5 billion acquisition of his company, io.
OpenAI, the innovative force behind ChatGPT, has announced an unusual partnership that brings one of Apple’s former design heads — famed for crafting iPhones, iPods, iPads, and Apple Watches — to the forefront of the newest technology wave: generative AI. This collaboration puts Jony Ive at the heart of the latest technological revolution.
In a tweet on Wednesday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed his excitement about the partnership: “Thrilled to be partnering with Jony, [in my opinion] the greatest designer in the world.” He added, “Excited to try to create a new generation of AI-powered computers.”
With this collaboration, Ive’s design expertise could help OpenAI directly compete with Apple in the consumer hardware space. This move may put additional pressure on Apple, as it struggles to keep up with the latest technology from OpenAI and Google.
Io, the device startup co-founded by Ive and Sam Altman two years ago, will now be fully absorbed into OpenAI. Io boasts a team of around 55 engineers, scientists, researchers, physicists, and product development specialists, many of whom are former Apple designers. The team will join forces with OpenAI to develop AI-powered consumer devices and other projects.
What’s Next for Jony Ive and OpenAI?
Ive is retaining control of his design firm, LoveFrom, which will continue to operate independently. Under OpenAI, Io will develop AI-powered consumer devices and other projects. According to Bloomberg, Ive and Altman’s first devices are slated to debut in 2026, with Ive playing an expansive role in future versions of ChatGPT and more.
The world of AI devices is still in its infancy. Meta, another tech giant, has shown promise with its AI-powered smart glasses, which have achieved strong sales and adoption among consumers. Google recently unveiled its version of AI smart glasses, further expanding the potential for this technology.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow the exciting developments at OpenAI and Jony Ive’s new role in shaping the future of generative AI!