Chatgpt-Maker Openai recently acquired a former Apple designer Johnny Eve's Starting an AI device With a totally fair deal of $6.5 billion. The company has removed the reference to “IO,” an IVE startup, from its platform, in accordance with court orders. The latest document reportedly revealed that the court documents have revealed that the products manufactured under the partnership are not wearable or in-ear devices. According to a report from The Verge, Openai's first hardware product is unlikely to be released before 2026.As part of the case, “IO” Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan (the consumer hardware team that OpenAI acquired for $6.5 billion) revealed the nature of the planned product. In a court declaration dated June 16, Tan said “The Sam Altman prototype mentioned in the video is at least a year away from being offered for sale,” adding, “Its design has not been finalized yet, but it is neither an in-ear nor a wearable device.”
Trademark Litigation Against Openai
The legal issue stems from Openai's use of the brand name “IO.” Working on INIO's audio computers, IYO claims Openai and IO leaders were aware of the brand and product plans. The company has contacted Openai CEO Sam Altman and others and submitted an email to the court indicating that it had rejected an offer to invest from IYO.“Thank you, but I'm working on something competitive so I'll pass with respect!” Altman wrote in an email after Iyo offered him the opportunity to invest in the device.
Openai removes IO mentions
By court order, Openai scrubbed all public references to “IO” from its website and social media. In a court document dated June 12, the company said it had sought many hardware formats before the team settled down in the direction. “For months after its establishment, IO investigated existing commercial products and worked on prototyping exercises,” Openai added that the team reviewed desktop, mobile, wired, wireless, wearable and portable concepts.
