Introduction
Sam & Jony’s io: Launch AI Companion at I/O 2025 | Picture a sleek device in your pocket that’s as smart as ChatGPT and as stylish as an iPhone. That’s io, the AI companion unveiled by Sam Altman and Jony Ive on May 20, 2025, at a keynote that stole the show, per TechCrunch. Blending OpenAI’s brainpower with Ive’s minimalist design, io aims to outshine Gemini AI and Apple’s LLM Siri. This post breaks down the keynote, streamed on YouTube, offers steps to launch io’s features, and shares my excitement.
“io is AI that feels human, designed to inspire.” — Jony Ive
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- How to Watch the io Keynote
- My Tech Hype Moment
- Key Announcements and Launch Steps
- Why io Matters
- More Tech to Explore on usashorts.com
- Conclusion
- FAQs
How to Watch the io Keynote
The io keynote streamed live on May 20, 2025, at 3 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET, 3:30 a.m. IST May 21) from San Francisco, per The Verge. Here’s how to catch it:
- Livestream: Watch on YouTube or io.ai, with ASL support, per Engadget.
- Register: Sign up free at io.ai/events for replays and updates, per Wired.
- Replays: Available on YouTube or io.ai.
For more keynote vibes, check Google I/O 2025: How to Watch or Google I/O 2025 Developer Keynote.

My Tech Hype Moment
As a tech fan who geeks out over gadgets like Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones, I watched the io keynote with my jaw dropped. I’ve played with OpenAI Codex CLI, but io’s sleek device and voice AI felt next-level—like CarPlay Ultra for your pocket. I imagined using io to plan a trip with Google Maps AI or create visuals like Gamma Stunning Presentations. The keynote’s energy, akin to Google I/O 2025 Keynote, got me hyped to try io!
Key Announcements and Launch Steps
The keynote, detailed by TechCrunch, unveiled io’s hardware and software ecosystem. Here’s what’s new and how to launch them:
io Device
- What it is: A palm-sized AI companion with a touchscreen, voice interface, and Jony Ive’s minimalist design. It uses OpenAI’s models for tasks like scheduling or answering questions, per Wired.
- Launch Steps:
- Related: Compare with iPhone 17 Air for design.
io OS and APIs
- What it is: A software platform with APIs for developers to build AI-driven apps, supporting iOS, Android, and web, per The Verge.
- Launch Steps:
- Sign up at io.ai/developers.
- Download the io SDK and API documentation.
- Build apps using io’s language models (e.g., for chatbots or analytics), per io.ai.
- Test integrations with OpenAI API.
- Related: Explore Canva Coding Tools for app-building.
Privacy and Security
- What it is: io emphasizes end-to-end encryption and on-device processing, minimizing cloud reliance, per TechCrunch.
- Launch Steps:
- Related: Compare with Apple AI Privacy or Microsoft AI Security.
io Voice Assistant
- What it is: A conversational AI rivaling Perplexity AI Voice, with natural language and context awareness, per Wired.
- Launch Steps:
- Activate the io app on your device.
- Enable voice mode in settings.
- Test commands like “plan my day” or “summarize this article.”
- Related: See Hey, Copilot! for voice AI trends.
Why io Matters
io’s launch is a game-changer for AI and design:
- Innovation: Combines OpenAI’s AI with Ive’s design, challenging Google I/O 2025 Keynote and iPhone 17 AI.
- Privacy: On-device processing aligns with RSA Conference 2025 trends.
- Developer Access: APIs open doors for apps, like Top 10 AI Tools or AI for YouTubers.
- Competition: io faces scrutiny from Perplexity Motorola and Ziff Davis OpenAI, per X posts like @tech_insider.
Compare io with competitors:
Feature | io (2025) | Google I/O 2025 | Apple WWDC 2025 |
---|---|---|---|
AI Platform | io OS, OpenAI models | Gemini 2.5 Pro | LLM Siri |
Hardware | io Device (touchscreen) | Android XR Glasses | iPhone 17 |
Privacy | On-device processing | Cloud-based AI | Apple AI Privacy |
Developer Tools | io APIs, SDK | Google AI Studio | Xcode AI |
Conclusion
Sam Altman and Jony Ive’s io, unveiled on May 20, 2025, blends AI smarts with stunning design, setting a new standard for personal tech. From the io device to its developer APIs, it’s ready to transform how we interact with AI. Pre-order now at io.ai, share your thoughts on X with #io2025, and explore more at usashorts.com!