Silicon Bromance: Apple Legend Jony Ive Takes Control of OpenAI’s Design Future
In a move that has left the tech world abuzz, former Apple design chief Jony Ive and his design firm LoveFrom will take over creative and design control at OpenAI. The deal makes Ive responsible for shaping the future look and feel of AI products at the chatbot creator, extending across all of the company’s ventures, including ChatGPT.
Ive was Apple’s chief design officer for nearly three decades, where he led the design of iconic products including the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch. His minimalist design philosophy earned him numerous industry awards and helped transform Apple into the world’s most valuable company.
"Thrilled to be partnering with jony, imo the greatest designer in the world," tweeted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman while sharing a 9-minute promotional video touting the personal and professional relationship between Ive and Altman. The video showcases the close bond between the two tech leaders and highlights their shared vision for creating innovative AI-powered products.
A screenshot of the Jony Ive/Sam Altman collaboration website captured on May 21, 2025.
Credit: OpenAI
Ive left Apple in 2019 to found LoveFrom, a design firm that has worked with companies including Ferrari, Airbnb, and luxury Italian fashion firm Moncler. The mechanics of the Ive-OpenAI deal are slightly convoluted. At its core, OpenAI will acquire Ive’s company "io" in an all-equity deal valued at $6.5 billion—Ive founded io last year to design and develop AI-powered products.
Meanwhile, io’s staff of approximately 55 engineers, scientists, researchers, physicists, and product development specialists will become part of OpenAI. This move marks a significant expansion of OpenAI’s engineering and research capabilities, as well as its ability to create innovative AI-powered products.
The Deal: A Partnership Born from Friendship
In some ways, the deal is no big surprise. Ive’s design firm and Altman have been working on a new device for two years that aims to create an AI-focused consumer electronics device. The collaboration reportedly focuses on creating devices that will reduce screen time, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Wall Street Journal.
The project has so far experimented with options including headphones and devices with cameras. While Ive made his reputation designing physical products at Apple, he also took on more software responsibilities toward the end of his tenure. At OpenAI, his work will extend across future versions of ChatGPT, audio features, apps, and other products.
A big part of marketing the deal has focused on the reported friendship between Altman and Ive. In a statement published on OpenAI’s website, Altman said he hopes the team-up can “bring some of the delight, wonder and creative spirit that I first felt using an Apple Computer 30 years ago.” (Altman once told Ars Technica that his first computer was a Macintosh LC II, introduced in 1992.)
The former Apple designer shared a similar sentiment that reached into his long and storied history as an industrial designer. “I have a growing sense that everything I have learned over the last 30 years has led me to this moment," said Ive.
What Does This Mean for OpenAI?
As OpenAI’s new design leader, Jony Ive will shape the future look and feel of AI products across all of the company’s ventures. This includes ChatGPT, which is an AI chatbot that can answer a wide range of questions on various topics. The partnership between Altman and Ive has been touted as a way to bring more human-centered design to AI products.
At Apple, Ive was known for his emphasis on simplicity and minimalism in product design. His approach at OpenAI will likely focus on creating intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that make it easy for people to interact with AI-powered products.
The acquisition of io by OpenAI also marks a significant expansion of the company’s engineering and research capabilities. With a team of 55 engineers, scientists, researchers, physicists, and product development specialists joining OpenAI, the company will be well-positioned to create innovative AI-powered products that meet the needs of its customers.
A New Era for OpenAI
The partnership between Jony Ive and Sam Altman marks a new era for OpenAI. With Ive at the helm of design, the company is poised to create innovative AI-powered products that are both functional and visually stunning. As the tech world continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how OpenAI’s new design direction shapes the future of AI-powered products.
In conclusion, the acquisition of Jony Ive’s firm io by OpenAI marks a significant turning point for the company. With Ive’s expertise in design and Altman’s leadership, OpenAI is well-positioned to create innovative AI-powered products that meet the needs of its customers. As the tech world continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how OpenAI’s new design direction shapes the future of AI-powered products.