OpenAI Buys Jony Ive's Design Startup for $6.5b

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Written By Rick Watson

OpenAI is a leading research organization focused on advancing safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence (AGI).

OpenAI has announced plans to acquire Jony Ive's startup, io, for $6.5 billion in a reported all-equity deal. Ive's design studio, LoveFrom, will operate independently from OpenAI but will have design and creative responsibilities across the merged company. The acquisition highlights OpenAI's end-to-end intent to create hardware products that showcase its AI software. Acquihire anyone?

Engadget: OpenAI buys Jony Ive's design startup for $6.5 billion

Rick Watson

Rick Watson founded RMW Commerce Consulting after spending 20+ years as a technology entrepreneur and operator exclusively in the eCommerce industry with companies like ChannelAdvisor, BarnesandNoble.com, Merchantry, and Pitney Bowes.

Watson’s work today is centered on supporting investors and management teams incubating and growing direct-to-consumer businesses. Most recently, in partnership with WHP Global, Rick was a critical resource in architecting the WHP+ platform, a new turnkey direct to consumer digital e-commerce platform that powers AnneKlein.com and JosephAbboud.com.

Watson also hosts a weekly podcast, Watson Weekly, where he shares an unbiased, unfiltered expert take on the retail sector’s biggest players.

In the past year alone, Rick has spoken at many in-person and virtual events as well as podcasts on topics ranging from retail/ecom to supply chain/logistics and even digital grocery including CommerceNext IRL, ASCM Connect, and Retail Innovation Conference.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/
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