OpenAI Jony Ive IO Deal: AI Hardware Future
- San Francisco-OpenAI has scrubbed references to io, the hardware company co-founded by former apple designer Jony Ive, from its website and social media. This action follows the recent...
- According to OpenAI, the removal stems from a trademark lawsuit filed by iyO, a hearing device startup originating from Google's innovation lab.
- The original announcement, including a blog post and a nine-minute video featuring Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have been taken down.
OpenAI is navigating a trademark dispute, forcing the removal of mentions of Jony Ive‘s io hardware startup, a critical advancement shaping the future of AI hardware. A $6.5 billion AI hardware acquisition hangs in the balance amidst a lawsuit from iyO, a hearing device company. The original proclamation, showcasing a collaborative effort, has been pulled, yet OpenAI stands firm on its acquisition aspirations. Explore how this legal challenge might reshape OpenAI’s AI hardware plans and the potential implications for the broader tech landscape. For timely updates, consider News Directory 3 for yoru daily dose of tech news. Discover what’s next …
OpenAI’s AI Hardware Plans Face Trademark Hurdle with Jony Ive Startup
Updated June 23, 2025
San Francisco-OpenAI has scrubbed references to io, the hardware company co-founded by former apple designer Jony Ive, from its website and social media. This action follows the recent announcement of OpenAI’s planned $6.5 billion acquisition aimed at developing specialized AI hardware.
According to OpenAI, the removal stems from a trademark lawsuit filed by iyO, a hearing device startup originating from Google’s innovation lab. Despite the legal challenge, OpenAI maintains that the acquisition is proceeding.
The original announcement, including a blog post and a nine-minute video featuring Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have been taken down. The post had highlighted the io team’s focus on creating inspiring and empowering products, noting their integration with OpenAI’s research, engineering, and product teams in San Francisco.
Kayla Wood, a spokesperson for OpenAI, said, “this page is temporarily down due to a court order following a trademark complaint from iyO about our use of the name ‘io.’ We don’t agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options.”
What’s next
OpenAI is evaluating its legal options as it navigates the trademark dispute, while still aiming to move forward with its AI hardware growth plans and the acquisition of io.