OpenAI CFO Reveals Device That Could Transform Computing
▼ Summary
– OpenAI is restructuring as a public benefit corporation to align with governance goals, potentially paving the way for an IPO and expanding infrastructure.
– OpenAI acquired Jony Ive’s AI startup to reinvent AI interfaces, moving beyond screens and keyboards to multimodal interactions like sight, sound, and speech.
– CFO Sarah Friar compared the initiative to past computing revolutions, suggesting it could phase out texting and introduce a radically new interface.
– The $6.4 billion acquisition of io, led by Ive and a team of Apple veterans, aims to revolutionize AI device interaction, similar to the shift from flip phones to smartphones.
– OpenAI is expanding cloud partnerships and building data centers to meet growing demand, with 500 million users accessing its AI models weekly.
OpenAI is positioning itself for a major technological leap by acquiring Jony Ive’s AI hardware startup, signaling a shift toward multimodal interfaces that could redefine how humans interact with artificial intelligence. The company’s CFO, Sarah Friar, recently outlined this vision during a keynote at VivaTech 2025, comparing the potential impact to historic transitions like the move from command-line interfaces to graphical user interfaces.
The $6.4 billion acquisition of io, led by Ive and a select team of Apple veterans, represents a bold bet on the future of computing. Friar emphasized that today’s AI interactions, largely confined to text-based inputs, are just the beginning. The next evolution will integrate sight, sound, and speech, moving beyond traditional screens and keyboards.
Friar drew parallels to past technological revolutions, noting how early mobile adaptations simply miniaturized desktop experiences rather than leveraging the unique capabilities of smartphones. “When mobile happened, all we did was shrink websites onto small screens,” she said. “We missed the bigger opportunity, location awareness and mobility gave rise to Uber. AI needs a similar breakthrough.”
While details about the new device remain under wraps, Friar hinted at a radical departure from current interfaces. “We’re going to stop thumb-talkers,” she remarked, referring to texting. “These models can process what we hear, see, and speak, why limit them to typing?”
Beyond hardware, OpenAI is expanding its infrastructure to meet surging demand. With over 500 million weekly users, the company has diversified its cloud partnerships beyond Microsoft to include Oracle and CoreWeave. It’s also investing in proprietary data centers through Project Stargate.
Financially, OpenAI is restructuring its for-profit arm as a public benefit corporation (PBC), a move that could precede an eventual IPO. “Public benefit corps can go public,” Friar noted, adding that competitors like Anthropic and DeepMind operate under similar structures. The nonprofit parent will remain central to governance and mission alignment, even as the company seeks profitability.
Despite generating $10 billion in annual revenue, OpenAI continues to operate at a loss. Friar acknowledged the challenge but framed it as part of the broader mission. “We need to reach profitability, but the nonprofit ensures our governance stays aligned with responsible AI development,” she said.
The acquisition of io underscores OpenAI’s ambition to lead the next computing paradigm. With Ive’s design expertise and a team that helped shape the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, the company is betting big on a future where AI interaction feels as natural as human conversation.
(Source: PYMNTS)
