io was founded in 2024 by Jony Ive, Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey and Tang Tan to develop a range of hardware products that use
artificial general intelligence. In 2024, io raised $225 million from multiple investors including
Sutter Hill Ventures, the
Emerson Collective,
SV Angel, Maverick Ventures and
Thrive Capital, as well as Ive who reportedly owned an 11 per cent stake. It was reported that OpenAI founder
Sam Altman did not have equity in the company. On May 21, 2025, OpenAI announced the full acquisition of io and the merger of both companies. In an announcement by Sam Altman and Jony Ive, io will merge with OpenAI to "work more intimately with the research, engineering and product teams in San Francisco." The merger was announced with a nine-minute film shot in
Cafe Zoetrope, San Francisco, in which Altman and Ive discussed their friendship and how they aim to "create a family of devices that would let people use AI to create all sorts of wonderful things." On July 9, 2025, OpenAI and io announced the completion of the merger. At the point of acquisition io had 55 employees, all of which joined OpenAI including founders Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey and Tang Tan. Ive and LoveFrom will remain independent and take on creative and design responsibilities at OpenAI. It was reported that OpenAI and io will release the first of its devices in 2026. == References ==