OpenAI Recruits Over 40 Former Apple Engineers for Jony Ive-Led Hardware Project

Sam Altman’s OpenAI has reportedly hired over 40 engineers, directors, and managers from Apple Inc. to strengthen its new AI hardware division led by designer Jony Ive. The hires span multiple Apple departments, including camera systems, silicon design, audio, and product reliability.

The recruitment follows OpenAI’s $6 billion acquisition of Ive’s AI startup, io, earlier this year. The collaboration between Altman and Ive is focused on developing a family of AI-driven hardware products expected to debut in 2026. Former Apple industrial design head Evans Hankey and hardware engineering executive Tang Tan have already joined the initiative.

Many of the new recruits previously worked under Apple’s hardware engineering chief John Ternus. Apple is simultaneously developing its own AI-integrated devices, such as smart home systems, AI-enabled AirPods, and smart glasses. The scale of departures to OpenAI has reportedly raised internal concerns at Apple as competition intensifies in AI-focused hardware design.

OpenAI has not yet launched any hardware products, but the influx of experienced engineers suggests the company is moving quickly to establish itself as a player in AI-enabled consumer devices.