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OpenAI announced a successful all-stock transaction worth nearly $6.5 billion, acquiring io Products, an AI hardware company co-founded by Jonathan Ive, former Chief Design Officer of Apple. This acquisition marks OpenAI's official entry into the hardware market, further expanding its business in the field of artificial intelligence.
According to announcements on the websites of OpenAI and Ive, the team from io Products has officially merged with OpenAI. Nevertheless, Ive and his design company LoveFrom will remain independent and continue to participate in OpenAI's design and creative work. This acquisition is considered OpenAI's largest transaction to date, aiming to provide the company with a specialized team focused on AI device development. Through the merger with io, OpenAI not only gained Ive but also recruited other former Apple designers who had been involved in designing iconic products such as the iPhone.
This deal was first announced in May, but it needed regulatory approval before it could be finalized. In June, due to a trademark dispute over the name "io," OpenAI had to temporarily remove related promotional materials and videos from its website. A representative of Ive stated that the lawsuit was "baseless."
OpenAI's move aims to further enhance its technical capabilities to secure a place in the increasingly competitive AI market. The acquired team will focus on developing new AI devices, which are expected to offer users a richer intelligent experience. Additionally, Ive's extensive experience in design will bring more innovative inspiration to OpenAI.
With the completion of this acquisition, OpenAI will integrate more professional knowledge from design and hardware manufacturing into its future product development, further advancing its artificial intelligence technology. This strategic move not only demonstrates OpenAI's ambition but also marks its growing influence in the global technology sector.
Key points:
🌟 OpenAI acquired the AI hardware company io Products, founded by Jonathan Ive, for nearly $6.5 billion.
🤝 After the acquisition, the io team will merge with OpenAI, while Ive's design company LoveFrom will continue to operate independently.
⚖️ The transaction was completed after regulatory approval, and related materials were temporarily removed due to a trademark dispute.
