Turns out “i” and “o” make for a popular combination of vowels in the tech industry.
Sam Altman’s OpenAI launched a very public partnership with io, the company owned by famed Apple designer Jony Ive, in May. The announcement included a splashy video and photos of the two of them looking like old friends.
On Sunday, however, OpenAI scrubbed any mention of that partnership from its website and social media.
That’s because iyO, a startup spun out of Google’s moonshot factory, X, and which sounds like io, is suing OpenAI, io, Altman, and Ive for trademark infringement.
iyO’s latest product, iyO ONE, is an “ear-worn device that uses specialized microphones and bone-conducted sound to control audio-based applications with nothing more than the user’s voice,” according to the suit iyO filed on June 9.
The partnership between OpenAI and io, meanwhile, is rumored to be working on a similarly screen-less, voice-activated AI device.
According to its deal with OpenAI, Ive’s firm will lead creative direction and design at OpenAI, focusing on developing a new slate of consumer devices.
When the deal was announced, neither party shared specific details about future products. However, Altman said the partnership would shape the “future of AI.”
iyO approached OpenAI earlier this year about a potential collaboration and funding. OpenAI declined that offer, however, and says it is now fighting the trademark lawsuit.
“We don’t agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options,” OpenAI told Business Insider.
