OpenAI and Jony Ive's 'io' Hardware Venture Faces Trademark Dispute, Temporarily Halts Promotions

OpenAI and Jony Ive's 'io' brand has vanished, but their AI hardware deal remains

Hayden Field is The Verge's senior AI reporter. An AI beat reporter for more than five years, her work has also appeared in CNBC, MIT Technology Review, Wired UK, and other outlets. OpenAI has scrubbed mentions of io, the hardware startup co-founded by famous Apple designer Jony Ive, from its website and social media channels. The sudden change closely follows their recent announcement of OpenAI's nearly $6.5 billion acquisition and plans to create dedicated AI hardware. OpenAI tells The Verge the deal is still happening, but it scrubbed mentions due to a trademark lawsuit from Iyo, the hearing device startup spun out of Google's moonshot factory. The announcement blog post and a nine-minute video featuring Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are no longer available. The blog post from Ive and Altman announcing the deal said, "The io team, focused on developing products that inspire, empower and enable, will now merge with OpenAI to work more intimately with the research, engineering and product teams in San Francisco." OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood: 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.

OpenAI Takes Down Jony Ive's 'io' References Amid Trademark Dispute

OpenAI has removed all mentions of Jony Ive's startup "io" from its website and social media pages. The scrub follows a court order prompted by a trademark complaint from iyO, a hearing device startup that graduated from Alphabet's X moonshot lab. "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," OpenAI said in an X post on Sunday. Ive's io was founded last year by the former Apple designer to develop next-generation hardware for AI. Last month, OpenAI announced it was acquiring the startup. As of writing, while OpenAI has taken down mentions of io, CEO Sam Altman hasn't. In the launch video still viewable on his X feed, Altman and Ive are seen hyping up new hardware that can make better use of AI. "I think we have the opportunity here to completely reimagine what it means to use a computer," Altman says in the video. According to Bloomberg, the acquisition was to be completed in the summer following regulatory approvals and would have cost OpenAI nearly $6.5 billion. Despite the lawsuit, OpenAI has no plans to drop the acquisition. The deal will go through, a company spokesperson confirmed to The Verge. Once the takeover is completed, OpenAI would merge io's team of 55 hardware engineers, software developers, and manufacturing experts with its teams in San Francisco. Together, they are expected to create a family of AI-powered devices, and the first one is already being tested. "The first one we've been working on...has just completely captured our imagination," Ive said in the video. Altman, who has been testing the prototype at home, says: "I've been able to live with it, and I think it's the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen."

OpenAI scrubs mention of Jony Ive partnership after judge's ruling over trademark dispute

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A budding partnership between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and legendary iPhone designer Jony Ive to develop a new artificial intelligence hardware product has hit a legal snag after a federal judge ruled they must temporarily stop marketing the new venture. OpenAI last month announced it was buying io Products, a product and engineering company co-founded by Ive, in a deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion. But it quickly faced a trademark complaint from a startup with a similarly sounding name, IYO, which is also developing AI hardware that it had pitched to Altman's personal investment firm and Ive's design firm in 2022. U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled late Friday that IYO has a strong enough trademark infringement case to proceed to a hearing in October. Until then, she ordered Altman, Ive and OpenAI to refrain from "using the IYO mark, and any mark confusingly similar thereto, including the IO mark in connection with the marketing or sale of related products." OpenAI responded by scrubbing its website of mentions of the new venture, including a web page of the May 21 announcement. In its place, the company had a message Monday that said the page "is temporarily down due to a court order" and added: "We don't agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options." IYO CEO Jason Rugolo applauded the ruling Monday in a written statement that said the startup will aggressively protect its brand and tech investments. "IYO will not roll over and let Sam and Jony trample on our rights, no matter how rich and famous they are," Rugolo said. -- -- The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement that allows OpenAI access to part of AP's text archives.

Here's Why Jony Ive and OpenAI Pulled All the Promos for Their AI Doohickey

At least we know Jony Ive's company isn't making something you'll stick in your ear. Over the weekend, OpenAI removed all promo materials related to its $6.5 billion buddy-buddy partnership with Apple design legend Jony Ive and their still unannounced AI-centric device. This wasn’t a falling out between the two titans in tech, but rather the result of something altogether stranger. The nixed webpages and videos are due to a trademark lawsuit filed by a separate startup, iyO, which is seemingly miffed about the companies names being a single letter apart. On July 20, California federal Judge Trina L. Thompson granted a temporary restraining order against OpenAI that forced it to remove all mentions of Ive’s design company, “io.†You can still find the bromance video of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Iveâ€"who helped bring us products like the iMac and iPhoneâ€"on YouTube through unofficial uploads. A page on OpenAI’s site that previously talked up its partnership with Ive now reads: "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 the distinction between iyO Inc. and io, other than the inclusion of everybody’s favorite sometimes vowel? iyO also makes “hardware and software allowing users to do everything they currently do on a computer, phone, or tablet without using a physical interface.†Which is to say, it's an AI device company. Jony Ive and several other ex-Apple staff founded io in 2023. Since then, it poached some big-name Apple design stars, though the company hadn’t released any real products in that time. Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom, helped design a button for a separate fashion designer. iyO has been around since 2021, though its latest productâ€"an in-ear headset called the iyO Oneâ€"is still up for preorder. It’s a device that claims to replace apps by letting users talk in natural language to a chatbot that then computes for you. It requires an audiologist to make an impression of your ear and costs $1,000 for a version with Wi-Fi connectivity or even more for a version with LTE. The device maker claimed in its lawsuit it is manufacturing an initial batch of 20,000 units and is still looking to raise more funds. The AI device maker sued IO Products and OpenAI earlier this month and said it was seeking an immediate restraining order and injunction to stop Ive and OpenAI from using their two-letter brand name. iyO claimed it sought some investment from OpenAI and LoveFrom, though Altman told them in March that it was “working on something competitive so will respectfully pass.†“Defendants [AKA OpenAI and Ive] have known about the existence of iyO, the iyO Marks, and the nature of iyO’s technology since at least 2022,†the AI device maker claims in its lawsuit. “Indeed, the parties had a series of meetings with representatives of OpenAI’s principal, Sam Altman, and designers from LoveFrom Inc., a design studio founded by Jony Ive, about the prospect of iyO and OpenAI working together.†For its part, OpenAI said in response to the lawsuit it had decided not to pursue any collab or funding with iyO. The makers of ChatGPT said it surveyed many existing commercial AI devices in the run-up to its May partnership announcement. Ive even went as far as to say the Rabbit R1 and Humane Ai Pin were “very poor products.†The name “io†derives from a tech term referring to “input output,†such as the “IO ports†like USB or HDMI you may find on a typical PC. In a statement published on the opening salvo for the lawsuit, iyO cofounder Justin Rugolo said OpenAI was trying to “trample†on the rights of his “small startup.†Rugolo also claimed he had messaged Altman saying that investors were concerned about confusion surrounding the company’s names. Rugolo complained that OpenAI had previously sued a separate artificial intelligence company, Open Artificial Intelligence, over a similar trademark claim. At the very least, this lawsuit offers a few more slim details about what Ive and Altman have in store. In its response to iyO’s claims, OpenAI said, “io is at least a year away from offering any goods or services, and the first product it intends to offer is not an in-ear device like the one Plaintiff is offering.†OpenAI further suggested whatever spins out of io will be a “general consumer product for the mass market.†It’s unlikely that we’ll see work stop on whatever Ive and co. are working on. There are more hearings surrounding this trademark case slated for the months ahead. The lawsuit offers yet another glimpse into the high-stakes world of AI wearable startups and just how hard it is to come up with a device that can match the versatility of an iPhone. We’ll still have to wait at least a year to see if anybody can cook up something more usable than an earpiece that lets you talk to a chatbot.

OpenAI's Hardware Plans With Jony Ive Just Hit a Legal Wall

Summary OpenAI's hardware venture with Jony Ive is halted due to a trademark infringement lawsuit. Iyo, an ear-worn audio computer company, claims OpenAI's 'io' name will cause confusion. Despite the setback, OpenAI's future hardware plans remain unaffected. We recently learned that not only was OpenAI venturing into hardware, but it was doing so in hand with Jony Ive, famously a former Apple lead designer behind several of the company's products over the past two decades. The hardware is still coming, but it's running into some roadblocks. OpenAI has seemingly scrubbed all mentions of the new venture in partnership with Jony Ive, io, from its online platforms. The move, which included the removal of a high-profile announcement video featuring Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, comes in response to a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by Iyo, a hearing device company with origins in Google's "moonshot" factory. A complaint was filed by Iyo, Inc., alleging that OpenAI's use of the name 'io' for its new hardware division constitutes a willful infringement of its trademark. Iyo, which is developing an AI-powered, ear-worn audio computer, argues that the similar-sounding name will create significant consumer confusion. The company, a spin-off from Alphabet's experimental X lab, claims it had been in discussions with representatives from both OpenAI and Ive's design firm prior to the acquisition announcement. Not only is the name similar (not identical, in OpenAI's defense, but probably similar enough to get at least some clueless buyers confused), but the company is also developing an AI product, which will certainly create confusion when OpenAI and Ive release their own product. Related OpenAI Will Work on Hardware Products With Jony Ive The former Apple executive wants to make AI-first hardware products. Posts The lawsuit from Iyo seeks an immediate temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to prevent OpenAI from using the 'io' name. Iyo contends that the high-profile launch of a similarly named and conceptually related product by a major industry player like OpenAI threatens to overshadow its own years of development and brand-building. Following the lawsuit, a court order forced OpenAI to remove all mentions of the current "io" name, taking the video private as well as all references to the venture, while the matter is being resolved. In a statement, OpenAI acknowledged that the "page is temporarily down due to a court order following a trademark complaint from iyO about our use of the name 'io'." It went on to add that "we don't agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options." It was also clarified that this court order, and probably the ultimate result of the lawsuit, doesn't mess with any of OpenAI's future hardware plans. This makes sense -- the worst thing that can happen is that the court ultimately rules in Iyo's favor and forces the venture to look for a new name, but that should ultimately not be important since products should still result from it. Don't be surprised if we see a new name within the next few months, though. Source: OpenAI (Twitter/X) via The Verge

OpenAI removes 'io' branding mentions over trademark lawsuit - 9to5Mac

If you recently looked up but couldn't find OpenAI's announcement video about its flashy partnership with Jony Ive, you are not alone. OpenAI has quietly pulled down the original blog post and the accompanying nine-minute video, just weeks after touting the $6.5 billionsc deal as a landmark step toward building new AI hardware. Here's what happened. According to a statement given to The Verge, OpenAI says the content was taken offline following a court order tied to a "trademark lawsuit from Iyo, the hearing device startup spun out of Google's moonshot factory." Here is OpenAI's full statement to The Verge: "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." Ive's camp has already signaled it won't back down either. In a statement to Bloomberg, a spokesperson for Ive said: "This is an utterly baseless complaint and we'll fight it vigorously" Despite the disappearing web pages, both OpenAI and Ive say the partnership itself remains on track. The original deal, announced earlier this month, involves OpenAI acquiring Ive's hardware startup, called IO Products and merging the team with OpenAI's own research and engineering groups in San Francisco. At the time, OpenAI framed the move as its biggest step toward designing consumer-facing AI devices with a more human-centered approach. Whether the final product will ship under the "io" name is now an open question.

OpenAI takes down mentions of Jony Ive's io amid trademark row

ChatGPT developer forced to act after receiving legal complaint from earbud maker iyO OpenAI has taken down online content related to its recent deal with Sir Jony Ive's hardware startup, io, after a trademark complaint. The artificial intelligence company has removed promotional materials including a video where Ive - the former Apple designer behind the iPhone - and OpenAI's chief executive, Sam Altman, discuss the $6.4bn (£4.8bn) transaction. However, the nine-minute film can still be viewed on YouTube. OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, was forced to act after receiving a legal complaint from iyO, a startup that makes artificial intelligence-backed earbuds. OpenAI said it had taken down a page on its website announcing the company's acquisition of io, which will involve Ive's company taking on creative and design leadership across the combined businesses. The dispute does not impact the deal itself, OpenAI added. "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," said an OpenAI spokesperson. Ive left Apple in 2019 after a 27-year career as one of the technology company's foremost product designers. The io deal video mapped out Ive and Altman's far-reaching ambitions for the transaction, which was announced last month. Ive, who was born in the UK and whose design credits include the first iPod, iPhone, MacBook Air, Apple Watch and AirPods, said: "I have a growing sense that everything I have learned over the last 30 years has led me to this place, to this moment." Altman said in the video that he has been trying out a prototype Ive device and says: "I think it is the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen." The fruits of the Ive-OpenAI partnership are not expected to emerge until next year. According to reports, the AI-enabled device will be "unobtrusive" and capable of being fully aware of a user's surroundings and life. It will sit on a user's desk and complement a MacBook Pro and an iPhone, according to the Wall Street Journal. Although Ive has expressed regret about the "unintentional" negative impacts of smartphone use, Altman has said the new venture does not plan to eliminate the iPhone. "In the same way that the smartphone didn't make the laptop go away, I don't think our first thing is going to make the smartphone go away. It is a totally new kind of thing," Altman told Bloomberg in May.

OpenAI and Jony Ive deal still on as ChatGPT owner scrubs io branding

All mentions of OpenAI's partnership with Jony Ive's startup io have been scrubbed from the company's site, following a trademark dispute. On Sunday afternoon, users on X noticed that the page on the OpenAI website announcing the company's $6.5 billion acquisition of io was taken down. But following brief speculation that the partnership had crumbled, OpenAI confirmed to The Verge that the deal is still on. Instead, it's related to a trademark dispute involving an AI earbud company called "iyO." "This page is temporarily down due to a court order following a trademark complaint from iyO about our use of the name 'io,'" the webpage now says. "We don't agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options." The promotional video is still up on X. According to an earlier report from Bloomberg Law last week, iyO, which began as a project within Google's Moonshot Factory incubator, filed a trademark lawsuit against OpenAI. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the judge presiding over the lawsuit issued a restraining order Jun. 20 against OpenAI, forcing the company to remove all materials with the "io" name. "The Jony Ive and OpenAI deal is on track and has NOT dissolved or anything of the sort, I'm told," said Gurman on X. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The OpenAI and io collaboration was announced in late May, with a promotional video and blog post sharing plans to develop a screenless AI companion. Ive, the iconic designer behind the iPhone and other emblematic Apple designs, is leading a team within OpenAI to develop a wearable device that has an awareness of users' surroundings through voice and image support. iyO makes an AI-powered companion in the form of earbuds. The company is currently accepting pre-orders for its iyO One device, and has argued in its lawsuit that OpenAI's venture has already created confusion. "Momentum 'came to a screeching halt' after io news," Bloomberg Law reported.

OpenAI pulls Jony Ive promo video over trademark dispute

This video interview between Jony Ive and Sam Altman has now been removed -- Image Credit: OpenAI A nine-minute video with Jony Ive and Sam Altman discussing their recently acquired AI startup has been withdrawn because of a challenge to their "io" name. While the existence of Ive and Altman's AI startup was reported as long ago as April 2024, it wasn't until a year later that its name was known. Even then, inApril 2025, it was initially reported that it was called "io Projects." By the time that the company was bought by Altman's OpenAi for $6.5 billion in May 2025, it had been officially announced under the name "io." Now as first spotted by TechCrunch, that name is proving to be a problem. A firm called iyO has taken to court to object over the name io and claim that it is, or will, create consumer confusion over its own AI products. The iyO firm comes from the research and development Alphabet X project, and is an AI device that relies solely on speech. While the case is still to be decided, Judge Trina L. Thompson held a discussion on or about June 18, 2025, concerning the issue. Judge Thompson has seemingly now granted iyO's temporary restraining order. No details have been released, but OpenAI has removed all mention of io in its promotional materials, including the nine-minute video interview between Ive and Altman. "This page is temporarily down due to a court order following a trademark complaint from iyo about our use of the name 'io,'" says an announcement on OpenAI's site where it previously hosted the video. "We don't agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options." Almost nothing is known about Ive and Altman's planned device, other than that it will be an AI-based one. In a TED talk in April 2024, iyO CEO Jason Rugolo revealed -- and used -- his firm's first device, the iyO One. Reminiscent of the failed Humane AI Pin, but intended to be worn in the ear, the demonstrated model is like a very large and conspicuous earbud. Rugolo says that iyO One represents a "new kind of natural language computing" that relies on "genuine, engaging conversation." The iyO One is available for pre-order for $99 and is due to ship in August 2025.

OpenAI scrubs mention of Jony Ive partnership after judge's ruling over trademark dispute

A budding partnership between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and legendary iPhone designer Jony Ive to develop a new artificial intelligence hardware product has hit a legal snag after a federal judge ruled they must temporarily stop marketing the new venture. OpenAI last month announced it was buying io Products, a product and engineering company co-founded by Ive, in a deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion. But it quickly faced a trademark complaint from a startup with a similarly sounding name, IYO, which is also developing AI hardware that it had pitched to Altman's personal investment firm and Ive's design firm in 2022. U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled late Friday that IYO has a strong enough trademark infringement case to proceed to a hearing in October. Until then, she ordered Altman, Ive and OpenAI to refrain from "using the IYO mark, and any mark confusingly similar thereto, including the IO mark in connection with the marketing or sale of related products." OpenAI responded by scrubbing its website of mentions of the new venture, including a web page of the May 21 announcement. In its place, the company had a message Monday that said the page "is temporarily down due to a court order" and added, "We don't agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options." IYO CEO Jason Rugolo applauded the ruling Monday in a written statement that said the startup will aggressively protect its brand and tech investments. "IYO will not roll over and let Sam and Jony trample on our rights, no matter how rich and famous they are," Rugolo said. © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Trademark dispute forces OpenAI to take down io posts

OpenAI recently secured a partnership with io, a hardware startup co-founded by Jony Ive, with a strategic objective to develop specialized artificial intelligence hardware; however, all public references to io have been removed from OpenAI's digital platforms. The removal of content occurred shortly after OpenAI announced its approximately $6.5 billion acquisition of the startup. This acquisition was intended to integrate io's capabilities into OpenAI's broader initiative to produce bespoke AI hardware solutions. Previously, an announcement blog post and a nine-minute video featuring Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were accessible to the public, detailing the collaboration. The blog post, co-authored by Ive and Altman, stated, "The io team, focused on developing products that inspire, empower and enable, will now merge with OpenAI to work more intimately with the research, engineering and product teams in San Francisco." These materials are no longer available across OpenAI's official channels. OpenAI has confirmed to The Verge that the acquisition agreement remains active despite the removal of the aforementioned content. The reason for the content's removal is a trademark lawsuit initiated by Iyo, a company specializing in hearing devices. Iyo is a startup that originated from Google's experimental development division, known as its moonshot factory. Kayla Wood, a spokesperson for OpenAI, issued a statement regarding the situation, clarifying the temporary unavailability of the content. Wood stated, "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." This indicates OpenAI's stance on the legal challenge and its consideration of potential responses to the trademark dispute.

OpenAI scrubs mention of Jony Ive partnership after judge's ruling over trademark dispute

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A budding partnership between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and legendary iPhone designer Jony Ive to develop a new artificial intelligence hardware product has hit a legal snag after a federal judge ruled they must temporarily stop marketing the new venture. OpenAI last month announced it was buying io Products, a product and engineering company co-founded by Ive, in a deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion. But it quickly faced a trademark complaint from a startup with a similarly sounding name, IYO, which is also developing AI hardware that it had pitched to Altman's personal investment firm and Ive's design firm in 2022. U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled late Friday that IYO has a strong enough trademark infringement case to proceed to a hearing in October. Until then, she ordered Altman, Ive and OpenAI to refrain from "using the IYO mark, and any mark confusingly similar thereto, including the IO mark in connection with the marketing or sale of related products." OpenAI responded by scrubbing its website of mentions of the new venture, including a web page of the May 21 announcement. In its place, the company had a message Monday that said the page "is temporarily down due to a court order" and added: "We don't agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options." IYO CEO Jason Rugolo applauded the ruling Monday in a written statement that said the startup will aggressively protect its brand and tech investments. "IYO will not roll over and let Sam and Jony trample on our rights, no matter how rich and famous they are," Rugolo said. -- -- The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement that allows OpenAI access to part of AP's text archives.

OpenAI's Partnership With Legendary iPhone Designer Jony Ive Has Already Hit a Snag: 'We Don't Agree With the Complaint'

Former Apple designer Jony Ive, who began at the tech giant in 1992, is famous for his work creating the iPhone and iPad (among other products). Ive left Apple in 2019 to found his own companies, including "io," an AI device startup, which was just purchased for $6.5 billion in an all-stock deal last month by ChatGPT-maker and AI behemoth, OpenAI. Or was it? If you check OpenAI's website or social media, you will no longer find any mention of it. Related: 'The Coolest Piece of Technology the World Has Ever Seen': OpenAI Is Acquiring Former Apple Designer Jony Ive's Startup for $6.5 Billion When the deal was announced, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Ive posted a video together announcing the partnership. Altman called one product he interacted with "the coolest piece of technology the world has ever seen," while Ive complimented Altman, calling him "a visionary." Now, the page is blank except for the text: "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." Spokespeople for Ive and OpenAI told Bloomberg that the public content was removed because of a recently filed trademark lawsuit by a company called IYO Inc., which also builds AI devices and wants to bar OpenAI from using the "io" name. "This is an utterly baseless complaint and we'll fight it vigorously," a spokesperson for Ive said on Sunday, per Bloomberg. But until then, the launch of the "coolest" tech ever is going to have to wait.

OpenAI pulls details of Jony Ive partnership amid trademark dispute

What started with the sudden disappearance of a website and a slick promo video over the weekend quickly sparked speculation online. Was the $6.5 billion deal in trouble? Turns out, yes at least legally. Spokespeople for both OpenAI and Ive confirmed that the takedown was due to a trademark dispute. The issue? A company named IYO Inc., which is also working on AI devices, has taken OpenAI to court, asking a judge to block the use of the "IO" name. As Bloomberg first reported, the case is now under review. So while the partnership between OpenAI and Ive isn't officially off the table, the branding and the rollout are on pause. The takedown of all marketing material comes just weeks after OpenAI grabbed headlines in May for acquiring IO Products the hush-hush AI hardware startup co-founded by legendary former Apple designer Jony Ive, the mind behind the iPhone, iMac, and more. The move signaled a major pivot for OpenAI, marking its first big step beyond software and into the world of physical products. When the deal was first announced, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called it the beginning of "a new family of products," with plans to launch the company's first AI hardware device within a year. Details around the design and features were tightly under wraps, but internally, Altman was bullish reportedly telling employees that OpenAI could move up to 100 million units. A bold bet, and a clear sign of just how much faith he had in the Ive collaboration. Altman didn't hold back on ambition. Internally, he reportedly told staff that acquiring Ive's company could one day add $1 trillion to OpenAI's valuation. "This is the biggest thing we've ever done as a company," he said. At the time of the announcement, Altman and Ive published a now-deleted joint blog post on OpenAI's website, saying: "It became clear that our ambitions to develop, engineer, and manufacture a new family of products demanded an entirely new company." OpenAI had already owned 23% of IO from an earlier collaboration, and paid an additional $5 billion in equity to fully acquire the startup. Public records show IO was incorporated in Delaware in September 2023, and registered in California in April 2024. The hardware division will be led by OpenAI's Peter Welinder, best known for his work in robotics and experimental products. He'll oversee a team drawn from across hardware, software, manufacturing, and research all working closely with OpenAI's core engineering teams in San Francisco. While details remain scarce, this partnership has been years in the making. Altman and Ive reportedly started working together quietly in early 2023. By February 2025, Altman had begun publicly teasing plans for an "AI-first device." What that device could look like is still anyone's guess. Some believe it might follow the path of gadgets like the Humane AI Pin or Rabbit R1. Others speculate it could be smart glasses, in-car AI systems or even robotic interfaces.

OpenAI Scrubs Jony Ive Deal From Website After Trademark Lawsuit Threatens $6.5 Billion IO Products Acquisition - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Over the weekend, ChatGPT-parent OpenAI pulled all public materials related to its $6.5 billion acquisition of Jony Ive's AI hardware startup, IO Products. What Happened: The takedown followed a trademark lawsuit filed by IYO Inc., a separate AI device company, which claims the "IO" branding infringes on its intellectual property, reported Bloomberg. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the removal to the publication and said it was due to the ongoing legal matter. Ive's representative called the suit "an utterly baseless complaint," adding, "We'll fight it vigorously." Earlier, the publication reported that a judge was weighing a preliminary injunction that could bar OpenAI from using the IO name during the legal proceedings. See Also: McDonald's Just Got Hammered By Weight-Loss Drugs -- Twice Why It's Important: The $6.5 billion acquisition marked OpenAI's most ambitious push into AI hardware. Ive, the former chief design officer at Apple Inc. AAPL, is renowned for designing iconic products like the iPhone and MacBook. Following the acquisition announcement in May, Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, said that OpenAI poses the first major competitive threat to Apple in 20 years. According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Apple's stock shows a negative price trend across short, medium and long-term periods. While the company scores well on quality metrics, its growth and momentum are weak and its valuation appears significantly low. For more information, click here. Read More: US Military Action On Iran? Odds Rise On Crypto Betting Site Polymarket As Trump Demands 'Unconditional Surrender' Photo courtesy: Svet foto / Shutterstock.com AAPLApple Inc$201.292.40%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum23.56Growth32.66Quality76.91Value9.47Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

OpenAI removes mentions of Jony Ive's io after trademark suit, says deal still on

io have reportedly been working on a device that moves consumers beyond screens. OpenAI has taken down a video and web page that promoted its acquisition of io, a startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive. The content, which focused on the OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Ive's partnership and vision for future AI devices, has been removed from both OpenAI's website and YouTube. The reason? A trademark complaint. The announcement page now displays a message that reads: "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." Also read: Meta wanted to buy OpenAI co-founder's startup but settled for hiring its CEO: Report OpenAI told The Verge that the deal is still on track, but it removed references to the project because of a trademark dispute with iyO. For those who are unaware, iyO is a hearing device startup that originated from Google's moonshot lab. Altman and Ive have reportedly been working on a device that moves consumers beyond screens. While no official product details have been revealed yet, reports suggest the first device could launch in 2026. Ive's design firm is said to lead the creative and design work at OpenAI. Also read: Microsoft eyes more job cuts as it shifts focus to AI and data centers When the deal was first announced, Altman explained the goal is to create a family of AI devices that help people use AI to create "all sorts of wonderful things." Meanwhile, Ive shared that everything he has learned "over the last 30 years has led me to this place and this moment." He said the first product they're working on has "completely captured" his imagination. Though the promotional video is gone for now, both companies appear committed to continuing their work together amid the legal dispute. Also read: Amazon to cut more jobs as AI boosts efficiency, says CEO Andy Jassy