OpenAI plans to acquire Jony Ive’s hardware startup io for $6.4 billion as part of its push into AI-powered devices, CFO Sarah Friar told CNBC. OpenAI plans to acquire Jony Ive’s year-old hardware startup io for about $6.4 billion, despite it having no product on the market. Friar acknowledged that valuing a young startup like io is difficult but expressed confidence in a long-term return. She emphasized the importance of investing in talented people with the capability to design, build, and scale new technology platforms. Friar said OpenAI sees potential for AI hardware to spark global user interest and support an expanded ChatGPT subscription model. She suggested OpenAI may develop devices without touchscreens but offered no specifics.
