Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Jony Ive, the former Apple designer, are reportedly not developing a wearable device through their hardware venture. On Sunday, the company retracted its “io” branding amidst a trademark dispute, leading to speculation about the nature of the artificial intelligence (AI) project they are working on. Court documents related to the lawsuit have indicated that the anticipated device will not be a wearable technology, although the specifics about the device remain somewhat unclear. Notably, it has been revealed that the launch is not expected before 2026.
Altman and Ive Reportedly Not Working on a Wearable
In a series of actions on Sunday, OpenAI deleted its announcement video featuring its collaboration with Ive along with any online content that included the term “io.” This branding change stems from a trademark complaint filed by iyO. Following this development, the official OpenAI Newsroom account issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), clarifying that the removal was a temporary measure prompted by the legal challenge.
Interestingly, iyO is an AI startup that emerged from Google’s Moonshot Factory. Reports from TechCrunch suggest that iyO is developing an AI-powered in-ear device with connectivity features that could rival OpenAI’s project. The startup’s legal filings also indicated that OpenAI executives had met with iyO to explore potential overlaps, including a demonstration of their device. OpenAI responded by expressing its disagreement with the claims and mentioned that they are considering their options.
Representatives from OpenAI and io have dismissed the allegations, asserting that they had purchased over 30 different types of headphones to examine market trends. Furthermore, a recent court declaration by Tang Tan, Co-Founder and Chief Hardware Officer of io Products, clarified that the device under development is neither a pair of earphones nor headphones.
Tang asserted that the prototype referenced by Altman in the launch video “is not an in-ear device, nor a wearable device.” He went on to specify that io does not plan to bring any product to market for at least the next year. Altman has echoed this sentiment during an internal meeting, emphasizing that the device being crafted will not be a wearable. He did mention, however, that this device is intended to become the “third core device” an individual would place on their desk, alongside a MacBook Pro and an iPhone.
