Jony Ive & OpenAI’s AI Hardware Deal Stands Despite ‘io’ Brand Disappearance
▼ Summary
– OpenAI removed mentions of Jony Ive’s hardware startup, io, from its website and social media following a trademark lawsuit from hearing device startup iyO.
– The removal occurred shortly after OpenAI announced a $6.5 billion acquisition and plans to develop AI hardware with io.
– OpenAI confirmed the deal is still proceeding despite the legal dispute over the “io” name.
– The announcement blog post and a video featuring Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have been taken down.
– OpenAI stated the page was temporarily removed due to a court order but disagrees with the complaint and is evaluating its options.
The partnership between OpenAI and Jony Ive’s hardware startup remains intact despite recent branding changes. OpenAI recently removed all references to “io,” the company co-founded by the renowned Apple designer, from its online platforms. This move came shortly after announcing a major $6.5 billion acquisition and plans to develop specialized AI hardware.
Sources confirm the collaboration is still moving forward, but the removal of “io” branding stems from an ongoing trademark dispute. Iyo, a hearing aid startup originating from Google’s experimental division, filed a legal complaint over the name similarity. As a result, OpenAI took down its announcement blog post and an accompanying video featuring Ive and CEO Sam Altman discussing their joint venture.
The original post had outlined how the io team would integrate with OpenAI to accelerate product development. A company spokesperson clarified that the page was temporarily disabled due to the court order but emphasized disagreement with the trademark claim. OpenAI is currently evaluating its next steps while maintaining its commitment to the hardware initiative.
Industry watchers remain intrigued by what this partnership could yield, given Ive’s legendary design expertise and OpenAI’s AI leadership. The legal hurdle appears to be a minor setback rather than a dealbreaker, with both parties focused on pushing forward.
(Source: The Verge)
