Latest news with #Iyo
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
OpenAI's Hardware Plans With Jony Ive Just Hit a Legal Wall
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. 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
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
OpenAI's first AI device with former Apple designer Jony Ive won't arrive 2026; court documents reveal ‘it is not a…'
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI recently acquired former Apple designer Jony Ive 's AI device startup in a $6.5 billion all-equity deal. The company has removed mentions of 'io', Ive's startup from its platform, following a court order. In a latest, the court documents have reportedly revealed that the product being manufactured under the partnership will not be a wearable or in-ear device. According to a report by The Verge, OpenAI's first hardware product is unlikely to launch before 2026. For those unaware, audio startup Iyo filed a lawsuit claiming OpenAI infringed on its trademark. As part of the case, Tang Tan, the chief hardware officer of "io" — a consumer hardware team acquired by OpenAI for $6.5 billion — clarified the nature of the planned product. In a court declaration dated June 16, Tan said 'The prototype Sam Altman referenced in the video is at least a year away from being offered for sale', adding 'Its design is not yet finalized, but it is not an in-ear device, nor a wearable device.' Trademark lawsuit against OpenAI The legal issue stems from OpenAI's use of the brand name 'io,' which Iyo argues is too similar to its own. Iyo, which is working on an in-ear audio computer, claims OpenAI and leaders from io were aware of its brand and product plans. The company has presented emails to the court showing that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others were in contact and even declined an investment offer from Iyo. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adidas Three Shorts With 60% Discount, Limited Stock Available Original Adidas Shop Now Undo 'Thanks but I'm working on something competitive so will respectfully pass!' Altman wrote in an email after Iyo offered him a chance to invest in their device. OpenAI removes io mentions Due to a court orders, OpenAI has scrubbed all public references to 'io' from its website and social media. In court documents dated June 12, the company said the team had been exploring many hardware formats before settling on a direction. 'For many months after its founding, io surveyed the existing commercial offerings and engaged in prototyping exercises,' OpenAI said, adding that the team reviewed desktop, mobile, wired, wireless, wearable, and portable concepts. Looking for a Party Speaker? You NEED to See This! AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
OpenAI and Jony Ive's AI device will not be a wearable: Report
The AI device from OpenAI and Jony Ive's hardware collaboration will not be a wearable, court filings showed. A new report from The Verge stated that leaders from the IO team noted that while the design hadn't been finalised, it wasn't an in-ear device or a wearable device. Tang Tan, IO's chief hardware office and a former head at Apple design also said that the device was still 'atleast a year away' from being shipped. The IO brand is involved in a trademark dispute currently with a Google-backed audio wearable startup, Iyo. As a part of their lawsuit the startup has shared an email exchange between them and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman among other IO execs. Altman even requested to demo their product which is an AI-powered earbud. However, IO sent in documents showing that they had looked at several prototype options that included mobile, desktop-based, wireless and wired and wearable and portable versions. The team ended up purchasing earbuds from 30 companies but eventually chose to not move forward with the wearable option. The declaration also stated that in an earlier email Altman had turned down an offer from Iyo to personally invest in the startup because he was working on 'something competitive.'
The Verge
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Verge
OpenAI's first AI device with Jony Ive won't be a wearable
Thanks to a related trademark lawsuit, we know what OpenAI and Jony Ive's first AI device won't be. In court filings submitted this month, leaders from io — the consumer hardware team OpenAI recently acquired from Jony Ive's design studio for $6.5 billion — testified that the first device they plan to release won't be an 'in-ear device' or a 'wearable.' They also say the AI device won't ship until 'at least' 2026. 'The prototype Sam Altman referenced in the video is at least a year away from being offered for sale,' Tang Tan, io's chief hardware officer and a former Apple design leader, said in a June 16th declaration. 'Its design is not yet finalized, but it is not an in-ear device, nor a wearable device.' Over the weekend, OpenAI was forced to remove public references to the io brand (which stands for 'input/output') due to a temporary restraining order that was granted on behalf of an audio device startup called Iyo. To support its case that OpenAI willfully infringed on its trademark, Iyo provides emails showing that leaders from io and OpenAI, including CEO Sam Altman, knew about its existence and even asked to demo the product — a yet-to-be-released, in-ear headphone billed as 'the world's first audio computer.' 'For many months after its founding, io surveyed the existing commercial offerings and engaged in prototyping exercises, as it considered a broad range of form factors, including objects that were desktop-based and mobile, wireless and wired, wearable and portable,' reads OpenAI's June 12th opposition to Iyo's lawsuit. 'As part of these early efforts, io purchased a wide range of earbuds, hearing aids, and at least 30 different headphone sets from a variety of different companies.' (TechCrunch's Maxwell Zeff first reported on the court documents.) 'thanks but im working on something competitive so will respectfully pass!' While Tan's declaration states that io's first piece of hardware won't be an 'in-ear device,' it's clear from the evidence submitted in the case that io and OpenAI have considered the category. In one email from late March, an io employee named Marwan Rammah told Tang that they should consider buying 3D scans of human ears 'as a helpful starting point on ergonomics and HF.' And in another email earlier that month, Altman responded to Iyo's offer to personally invest in the company by writing: 'thanks but im working on something competitive so will respectfully pass!' I'd love to chat. You can reach me securely and anonymously on Signal.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Report Suggests Popular WWE Faction is 'Done'
It's crucial to remember the WWE calendar revolves around WrestleMania. The company has often shown that they use the time immediately after the "Grandest Stage of Them All" as a soft reset to plant intriguing storylines for the subsequent year. For as much as the product has improved with Triple H at the helm, he still falls into plenty of the tropes that plagued Vince McMahon for decades. One continuous issue is the soft drop of once-prevalent angles. A former premier faction could suffer this practice, as a new report suggests they have quietly disbanded. WWEGetty Images According to Bryan Alverez of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Damage CTRL is likely over as a stable. "I don't know if this is 'official'—but I was told unofficially that Damage CTRL's done," Alvarez said. "The group is done. And that probably means that maybe Asuka and Kairi might come back as a tag team, and Iyo's obviously a big singles star, and maybe they just figured that Dakota, she's not going to be at the level of an Iyo, doesn't have a partner, and we don't do a six-woman division, so she got cut." Dakota Kai was one of the most surprising names in the recent slew of releases, but her constant injuries likely made it tough for her to receive another sustained push. She was the glue keeping the idea of the group together, so her absence abruptly ended the union. Advertisement Perhaps when Kairi Sane and Asuka return, they could align with Iyo Sky, but it seems like the latter is doing just fine as a face of the women's division. Related: Conflicting Reports Around WWE Signing Disgraced Former WWE Champion Related: Cody Rhodes Return Timeline Revealed? New Update Emerges
