OpenAI and IO
IO is an AI hardware startup founded by Jony Ive, former Chief Design Officer at Apple, and co-founded with other ex-Apple executives, including Scott Cannon, Tang Tan, and Evans Hankey. The company focuses on creating devices designed from the ground up for artificial intelligence, aiming to make AI the core of the user experience. IO's team of 55 engineers, researchers, and designers will merge with OpenAI, allowing the company to develop AI-powered consumer devices.
*Key Details:*
- *Founding*: IO was founded last year, with OpenAI already holding a 23% minority stake.
- *Acquisition*: OpenAI acquired IO in a $6.4-6.5 billion all-equity deal, marking its largest acquisition to date.
- *Product Focus*: IO is reportedly building AI-enabled consumer devices, including potential projects like screenless phones and smart home gadgets.
- *Partnership*: Jony Ive's design firm, LoveFrom, will assume deep creative and design responsibilities across OpenAI and IO.
- *Goal*: The acquisition aims to create a family of products for the AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) era, reimagining how humans interact with technology