Before he changed the tech world alongside Steve Jobs, Jony Ive considered leaving Apple. Now, he is creating a new dynamic duo with Sam Altman from OpenAI.
Designer Jony Ive, who is widely recognized for his contributions to products like the iMac and iPhone, almost left Apple before Steve Jobs made his comeback as CEO.
However, he chose to remain with the tech giant for almost thirty years, transforming the landscape of consumer electronics. Now, he is embarking on a new journey, aiming to achieve similar success in the field of AI.
As Ive partners with OpenAI’s Sam Altman, let’s take a moment to reflect on his rise to fame as one of the most prominent tech designers globally, aided by a Silicon Valley legend.
Ive joined Apple in 1992 after graduating from Newcastle Polytechnic, which is now known as Northumbria University in the U.K. He began his career by founding his own design firm, Tangerine, as noted in Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs. After Tangerine landed a contract with Apple, Ive relocated from London to Cupertino, California, to work in the design department, where he quickly ascended to the position of head of the department by 1996.
Despite his success, Ive was not satisfied and was actually considering quitting. Under the leadership of then-CEO Gil Amelio, he felt that the company was overly focused on profits, expecting designers to create the outer designs of products while engineers prioritized making the internal components as cost-effective as possible.
This situation shifted when co-founder Steve Jobs returned in 1997 after being removed from the company over a decade earlier. In one of his initial discussions with employees, Isaacson recounts that Ive recalled Jobs stating that the company’s goal was “not just to make money but to make great products.” This message inspired Ive to stay.
Initially, Jobs sought a design partner outside of Apple, but he developed a liking for Ive due to his sincerity during a visit to Apple’s design department, as Isaacson wrote.
“We talked about our ideas on forms and materials,” Ive shared with Isaacson. “We were in sync. I suddenly realized why I had such a passion for the company.”
Jobs formed a unique connection with Ive, even though there was a 12-year age gap, as noted by Isaacson. The designer, who was meant to report to the head of the hardware division, became a regular guest at Jobs’ house and often shared lunch with the CEO. Despite being known for his harsh critiques, Jobs seemed to hold back his worst reactions when it came to Ive.
Laurene Powell Jobs, Steve Jobs’ widow, shared with Isaacson, "Most people in Steve’s life are replaceable. But not Jony."
Their respect for each other was evident. Jobs remarked to Isaacson about Ive: "He grasps the overall vision as well as the tiniest details of every product. He knows that Apple is fundamentally a product company. He’s more than just a designer."
Ive remained at Apple for almost ten years after Jobs passed away, leaving the company in 2019 to co-found a design firm called LoveFrom.
Two years back, LoveFrom started collaborating with OpenAI, and a year ago, Ive co-founded io, a startup dedicated to creating AI-native devices.
Recently, OpenAI announced its acquisition of io for $6.5 billion, with Ive aiming to leverage his previous design achievements to create new AI-native products.
It’s not yet clear what role Ive will take at OpenAI. However, in a joint statement from both Ive and Altman, they mentioned that Ive’s LoveFrom will “take on significant design and creative duties across OpenAI.”
OpenAI has not yet responded to Fortune’s inquiry for comments.
Ive’s team at io is reportedly already working on a secretive AI gadget, and Altman is quite impressed.
"Jony recently let me take home one of the prototypes for the first time, and I’ve been living with it. I believe it’s the most amazing piece the world has ever seen," Altman stated in a video announcing the acquisition.
By partnering with OpenAI, he might also be forming another powerful duo, this time with Altman—another prominent figure in tech, but 28 years younger than him.