Artificial Intelligence Device Developed by Jony Ive and Sam Altman is Not Identical to ChatGPT, Featuring Direct Audio Communication
In the rapidly evolving world of AI technology, a significant trademark dispute has emerged between two prominent players in the AI hardware market - iyO Inc. and io Products, Inc.
iyO Inc., a venture-funded startup spun out from Google X, specialises in natural language computing and is developing new ways to interact with AI assistants beyond screens or voice boxes. Their innovative screenless natural language consumer hardware aims to advance AI interfaces. On the other hand, io Products, Inc., co-founded by designer Jony Ive and acquired by OpenAI in a deal valued at around $6.5 billion, is also working on AI hardware products with a focus on natural language communication devices.
The dispute centres on the similar sound and branding of "iyO" and "io." In 2025, iyO successfully obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) against io Products, OpenAI, Sam Altman, and Jony Ive, requiring them to immediately stop using the "IO" brand name due to willful trademark infringement and unfair competition.
Judge Trina Thompson granted the TRO because the "IO" name was deemed confusingly similar to iyO's registered trademark, allowing iyO to assert their rights pending a full hearing. The court highlighted the severity of the defendants' willful violations in leveraging a mark close enough to iyO's to cause market confusion.
Furthermore, iyO is suing a former employee for trade secret misappropriation after evidence showed that confidential information and CAD drawings of iyO’s product were leaked to io Products by this engineer, Dan Sargent, who was seeking employment at io. This reveals not only branding tensions but also allegations of intellectual property theft between the competitors.
Over the weekend, OpenAI removed all promotional materials related to its partnership with Jony Ive and their AI-centric device due to the trademark lawsuit filed by iyO. As for iyO, they are currently manufacturing an initial batch of 20,000 units of the iyO One and are still looking to raise more funds.
This legal battle is emblematic of fierce competition in the nascent AI hardware market and highlights the importance of intellectual property rights in technology innovation. As both companies move forward, it will be interesting to see how the landscape of AI hardware evolves and whether either party can create a truly groundbreaking product in the field.
- The future of tech and smart-home devices is becoming even more intriguing as disputes, such as the one between iyO Inc. and io Products, Inc., emerge in the AI technology sector.
- In the midst of this legal battle, both tech giants continue their work, with iyO Inc. focusing on screenless natural language consumer hardware that seeks to revolutionize AI interfaces, while io Products, Inc. is actively developing AI communication devices.
- This trademark dispute, which led to a temporary restraining order against io Products, OpenAI, Sam Altman, and Jony Ive, underscores the importance of avoiding similar-sounding brand names in the increasingly competitive technology market.
- The ongoing legal conflict also raises concerns about intellectual property theft, as confidential information from iyO was allegedly leaked to io Products, thereby fueling accusations against former employee Dan Sargent.
