OpenAI is reportedly in talks to acquire io Products, the AI hardware startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, according to a new report from The Information.
The potential acquisition could be valued at around $500 million, though sources say OpenAI may ultimately opt to partner with io Products instead. The startup, which remains in stealth mode, has been exploring innovative AI-powered hardware concepts — including smart home devices.
Ive left Apple in 2019 to launch his own design studio, LoveFrom. In an interview with The New York Times last year, he confirmed his collaboration with Altman on a new venture aimed at building AI devices that are “less socially disruptive than the iPhone.”
io Products has already attracted funding from Laurene Powell Jobs’ Emerson Collective, among other backers. The startup’s small but elite team includes former Apple veterans Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, both known for their contributions to iPhone and Apple Watch design.
Whether OpenAI moves forward with a full acquisition or a strategic partnership, the interest signals a strong push into consumer-facing AI hardware.
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