
OpenAI acquires Jony Ive’s studio for $6.5 billion with support from Jobs’ widow
The mysterious artificial intelligence-based device being created through joint efforts of OpenAI and legendary ex-Apple design director Jony Ive has received high praise from Steve Jobs’ widow. Laurene Powell Jobs openly admitted, I quote “Many of us now have complicated relationships with technology”. Laurene Jobs, who maintained close friendship with Ive after Steve Jobs’ departure in 11, also stated that “there are dark sides to using certain types of technologies”, even if they “weren’t designed to achieve such results”.
And Jony Ive emphasizes that work on the new artificial intelligence device together with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is motivated by the conviction that, I quote “humanity deserves better”. Earlier, former Apple chief designer Jony Ive already said that his latest developments are driven by the desire to take responsibility for the “unforeseen consequences” of creating the iPhone, hinting at problems of screen and social media addiction.
It’s worth noting that Powell Jobs invested in both of Ive’s startups — design studio LoveFrom and hardware company io after his departure from Apple. Now Ive’s company is being acquired by OpenAI for almost $6.5 billion, and thanks to her investments, Powell Jobs could receive significant profit. If the mysterious gadget turns out to be even remotely as successful as the iPhone.