New legal filings reveal details about OpenAI and Jony Ive’s io team collaborating on a consumer AI device, according to a report by The Verge.
According to court documents, the first product – slated for release no earlier than 2026 – will not be an “in-ear device” or a wearable.
“The prototype Sam Altman referenced in the video is at least a year away from being offered for sale,” said Tang Tan, io’s chief hardware officer and a former Apple design leader, in a June 16th declaration. “Its design is not yet finalized, but it is not an in-ear device, nor a wearable device.”
OpenAI recently acquired io (short for “input/output”) from Jony Ive’s design studio for $6.5 billion. However, the company was forced to remove public references to the io brand after a temporary restraining order was granted to Iyo, an audio startup alleging trademark infringement.
Emails submitted in the lawsuit show that OpenAI and io leaders, including CEO Sam Altman, were aware of Iyo’s in-ear “audio computer” and even requested a demo. Legal filings also reveal that OpenAI and io have extensively researched in-ear devices, purchasing over 30 headphone sets to evaluate the market.
Altman previously told OpenAI employees that the prototype would be a “third device” – something portable (fitting in a pocket) or desk-friendly, capable of understanding a user’s surroundings. While initial speculation suggested a wearable, the lawsuit confirms OpenAI is exploring multiple form factors.
