2025-05-26: OpenAI Announces Jony Ive-Designed AI Devices with Vietnam as Key Manufacturing Hub
AI-Powered Analytics Transform Esports Strategy and Performance in League of Legends
Good Morning,
Below are some of the most important developments in the artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and cloud computing sectors in Asia today.
▪️ Vietnam: OpenAI Announces Jony Ive-Designed AI Devices with Vietnam as Key Manufacturing Hub
OpenAI will introduce a new lineup of AI devices designed by Jony Ive, with Vietnam poised to become the primary manufacturing hub.
▪️ Taiwan: OpenAI’s Acquisition of io Signals Major Shift in AI Hardware and Supplier Dynamics
OpenAI’s planned $6.5 billion acquisition of io will reshape AI hardware development and its supplier landscape.
▪️ Taiwan: Nvidia’s Expansion Accelerates AI Investment and Talent Shift in Taiwan
Taiwan’s technology sector is poised for transformation as Nvidia and other global firms ramp up investments and talent recruitment.
▪️ South Korea: AI-Powered Analytics Transform Esports Strategy and Performance in League of Legends
AI-driven analytics are revolutionizing strategic preparation and performance assessment in competitive esports.
▪️ South Korea: South Korea Launches Drive for Global AI Leadership Amid Structural Challenges and Policy Reforms
South Korea is rolling out an ambitious plan to secure a spot among the top three global leaders in artificial intelligence by tackling structural challenges and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
▪️ Taiwan: Nvidia Unveils Blackwell AI GPU Tailored for China Amid Export Controls
Nvidia will introduce a China-specific Blackwell-architecture AI graphics processor in June 2025.
For more information on these developments, please see the full report below.
Thanks for reading,
Rodney J Johnson
Today's Developments
Widely Reported On Issues of Importance
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OpenAI Announces Jony Ive-Designed AI Devices with Vietnam as Key Manufacturing Hub
OpenAI will introduce a new lineup of AI devices designed by Jony Ive, with Vietnam poised to become the primary manufacturing hub.
On May 21, OpenAI announced its acquisition of hardware startup io, founded by designer Jony Ive, who will lead the creation of this device range.
The company plans to begin mass production in 2027 and will conduct assembly and shipping outside China to reduce geopolitical risk, with Vietnam emerging as the top candidate.
Executives at Meta and Marvell point to Vietnam’s strong government support, modern infrastructure and skilled workforce as major investment draws.
Meta’s decision to produce its Quest 3S virtual reality headsets there is expected to generate about 1,000 jobs and deliver a significant economic boost. Apple has also relocated the majority of its product manufacturing to Vietnam, reflecting growing confidence in the country’s production capabilities.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo offers early details on the forthcoming OpenAI device: it will exceed the Humane AI Pin slightly in size and adopt a minimalist aesthetic reminiscent of the iPod Shuffle.
Designed to hang around the neck, the wearable will include a camera and microphone for environmental interaction but forgo a built-in display, instead linking to smartphones and PCs to expand its functions.
OpenAI’s announcement coincided with Google’s unveiling of its AI ecosystem at the I/O conference, a timing that suggests a strategic bid for industry attention.
This initiative aligns with the broader trend of embedding AI into physical objects—often called physical AI—which is set to reshape the technology landscape. Precedents from Apple, Google and Huawei underscore the growing importance of tightly integrating hardware and software in future tech development.
References for this Development
AI-powered artworks from 25 global artists debut in Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam Net - E | English | News
Vietnam may assemble OpenAI and Jony Ive’s AI device
Vietnam Net - E | English | News
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OpenAI’s Acquisition of io Signals Major Shift in AI Hardware and Supplier Dynamics
OpenAI’s planned $6.5 billion acquisition of io will reshape AI hardware development and its supplier landscape.
OpenAI has agreed to acquire io, an AI device company co-founded by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $6.5 billion.
As the largest acquisition in OpenAI’s history, the deal will exchange OpenAI shares for io equity with no immediate cash payment. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
OpenAI aims to accelerate innovation in AI hardware because existing consumer platforms cannot fully support advanced AI models.
CEO Sam Altman argues that only a seamless integration of software and hardware design can unlock on-device AI processing at scale. By bringing io’s industrial design expertise in-house, OpenAI plans to develop new device form factors optimized for AI workflows. The company targets a first wave of these products for launch next year.
Jony Ive views this transaction as the culmination of over 30 years of work in industrial design and user experience.
After closing, OpenAI will establish a dedicated AI device department led by Ive and his leadership team. This unit will oversee end-to-end product development—from conceptual design and prototyping through manufacturing and post-launch iteration—and is expected to attract additional design talent, including alumni of Apple’s original design teams.
The acquisition also promises significant outsourcing and manufacturing opportunities across the supply chain.
Foxconn, long a contract manufacturer for Apple and a supplier of AI servers to OpenAI and Microsoft, appears well positioned to secure production orders for the new hardware. On announcement of the deal, Foxconn’s shares registered a modest uptick in intraday trading.
OpenAI does not intend these devices to replace smartphones.
Instead, it will position them as complementary platforms dedicated to advanced AI applications—ranging from real-time language translation and augmented reality interactions to continuous generative content creation—that existing mobile devices cannot natively support.
References for this Development
OpenAI買新創io 鴻海有望搶下AI硬體訂單
OpenAI buys new startup io, Foxconn is expected to grab AI hardware orders
Yahoo Finance | Local Language | News
輝達財報前祭「NVLink Fusion」半套客製化技術 箭指白牌AI伺服器鏈
Yahoo Finance | Local Language | News
聯發科29日股東會 AI驅動營運雙引擎
MediaTek to hold shareholder meeting on 29th: AI drives dual operation engines
Yahoo Finance | Local Language | News
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