OpenAI has quietly removed all public references to “io,” the hardware venture co-founded by legendary Apple designer Jony Ive, following a trademark dispute with iyO, a hearing device startup originating from Google’s moonshot lab. Despite the rebranding setback, OpenAI confirms that the high-profile partnership and hardware development plans remain fully intact.
Mentions of the project, including a blog post and a nine-minute video featuring Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have been taken down from OpenAI’s website and social media. The removed content previously announced that the io team would join OpenAI to collaborate on new AI-integrated hardware based in San Francisco.
OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood told 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.”
The company’s nearly $6.5 billion investment in the hardware venture reflects its long-term ambition to build dedicated devices optimized for AI experiences. While the branding remains in limbo, the collaboration between OpenAI and Ive’s team continues to move forward behind the scenes.
