After months of speculation and industry whispers, OpenAI has made its boldest move yet—acquiring the secretive startup "io" for a staggering $6.5 billion. This isn't just another corporate merger; it's a fusion of Silicon Valley's brightest minds, with former Apple design legend Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joining forces to create what they're calling the future of personal technology.
This week, OpenAI teased the collaboration with a cryptic video, but new details have emerged that reveal their ambitious vision. According to internal communications obtained by The Washington Post (source), Altman has set an audacious goal: shipping 100 million AI "companions" worldwide.
"This is our chance to do the biggest thing we've ever done as a company," Altman reportedly told his team during an all-hands meeting. While acknowledging they won't hit 100 million units on launch day, he confidently predicted they'd reach that milestone "faster than any company has ever shipped 100 million of something new before."
The Mysterious "Companion" Device
So what exactly is this revolutionary product? Described as more than just hardware but less than a smartphone replacement, the device will be deeply aware of users' surroundings and daily lives. While initially conceived as a single product, Altman hinted it might evolve into "a family of devices." Meanwhile, Ive—known for his minimalist iPhone designs—has called it nothing less than "a new design movement."
Why Acquisition Over Partnership?
The original plan was simpler: Ive's startup would design hardware while OpenAI provided the artificial intelligence smarts. But as development progressed, both parties realized this project demanded tighter integration. As Altman explained to employees: "If you subscribed to ChatGPT, we should just mail you new computers." This philosophy reflects their belief that current technology fundamentally limits AI's potential.
Sneak Peek at Design Details
The tech world is abuzz with speculation about what form this device will take:
- Not a smartphone: They're explicitly avoiding direct competition with existing mobile devices. Not glasses: Despite rumors about AR wearables.A wearable alternative: Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests it may resemble an iPod Shuffle in size but worn necklace-style rather than clipped like Humane's AI Pin.