OpenAI’s debut shopper AI product, developed with former Apple designer Jony Ive by way of their startup io, gained’t be a wearable machine, in accordance with current court docket filings. Dated June 21, the filings come amid a trademark spat sparked by a Google-backed startup known as Iyo that builds AI-enabled earpieces.
Tang Tan, io’s chief {hardware} officer and longtime Apple govt, declared in court docket on June 16 that io’s public announcement video “didn’t promote any particular product as a result of io at the moment has no merchandise on the market.” He added that the prototype proven by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman gained’t ship till 2026. “Its design isn’t but finalized, however it’s not an in-ear machine, nor a wearable machine,” learn the filings. Additional, the submitting reads: “io has not offered, provided on the market, distributed, or marketed any services or products.”
Following the dispute, OpenAI scrubbed promotional supplies associated to its $6.5 billion acquisition of io to adjust to a June 22 court docket order. OpenAI stated it’s preventing Iyo’s allegations of trademark infringement.
“jason rugolo had been hoping we might put money into or purchase his firm iyo and was fairly persistent in his efforts. we handed and have been clear alongside the best way,” Altman wrote on X at present. “now he’s suing openai over the title. that is foolish, disappointing and flawed.”
jason rugolo had been hoping we might put money into or purchase his firm iyo and was fairly persistent in his efforts. we handed and have been clear alongside the best way.
now he’s suing openai over the title. that is foolish, disappointing and flawed. pic.twitter.com/k5oKHGLw0s
— Sam Altman (@sama) June 24, 2025
Court docket paperwork reveal that over the previous yr, OpenAI executives and former Apple veterans at io researched in-ear {hardware}. Emails within the filings present that OpenAI leaders, together with Altman, have been conscious of Iyo’s merchandise and requested demos of what Iyo known as an “audio laptop.”
Based on OpenAI’s June 12 opposition to Iyo’s lawsuit, io explored a variety of units after its founding—together with desktop, cellular, wired, wi-fi, wearable, and transportable units. As a part of this early work, io acquired quite a few earbuds, listening to aids, and at the least 30 headphone fashions from numerous firms.
Previous to Altman’s Could announcement of the acquisition of Ive’s startup, court docket paperwork present that Iyo reached out to Altman in March to pitch a brand new funding spherical. Altman declined, citing work on a “aggressive” undertaking known as io, which he stated was “pushed” by Jony Ive. Then in Could, OpenAI’s vp of product, Peter Welinder, together with io’s Tan, met with Iyo CEO Jason Rugolo to study extra in regards to the firm’s in-ear machine. Emails disclosed within the filings present they examined Iyo’s product, however follow-up messages reveal the demonstration repeatedly failed, leaving them upset.
Whereas Tang’s declaration states that io isn’t constructing an “in-ear machine,” separate court docket filings embody an e-mail from io worker Marwan Rammah to Tang proposing further ear fittings for the staff to check Iyo’s product. Rammah additionally inquired about accessing a library of ear fashions “as a useful place to begin on ergonomics and human elements.”
