OpenAI and Jony Ive’s io are making an AI device- not a wearable or earbud.
The first product is at least a year away from launch.
OpenAI and io purchased over 30 headphone models in the past year to understand what's on the market today.
OpenAI and former Apple design chief Jony Ive’s startup, io, are working on their first-ever AI device, but it turns out it may not be a wearable at all. Court documents from a trademark dispute with a company called iyO have revealed fresh details about the mysterious product.
SurveyWhile many expected the device to be a pair of AI-powered earphones, io’s chief hardware officer Tang Tan clarified that the prototype “is not an in-ear device, nor a wearable device.” He also revealed the design isn’t final yet and that the product won’t be ready for sale or advertising for at least another year, reports TechCrunch.
Also read: OpenAI removes mentions of Jony Ive’s io after trademark suit, says deal still on
The court filings also show that OpenAI and io purchased over 30 headphone models in the past year to understand what’s on the market today, and had even met with iyO’s team to try out their in-ear tech. During a meeting on May 1, OpenAI’s VP of Product Peter Welinder and Tang Tan tested iyO’s custom-fit earpiece at io’s San Francisco office. But the demo didn’t go well. The product failed several times, according to emails shared in the case. Tan said he only took the meeting as a courtesy to a former Apple colleague and took steps to avoid learning too much about iyO’s intellectual property.
Despite multiple offers from iyO’s CEO to partner up or even sell his company for $200 million, Tan stated in his declaration that he declined all proposals. Former Apple executive and now io’s chief product officer, Evans Hankey, also confirmed that io is not developing a custom-molded earpiece.
Also read: Meta wanted to buy OpenAI co-founder’s startup but settled for hiring its CEO: Report
Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, said in a declaration to the court, “Our intent with this collaboration was, and is, to create products that go beyond traditional products and interfaces.”
Whether the first product of OpenAI and Jony Ive will surprise us with a bold new category or redefine an existing one, the tech world will be watching closely.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
