OpenAI and Jony Ive’s ‘IO’ brand has vanished, but their AI hardware deal remains | The VergeSkip to main contentHamburger Navigation ButtonHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandReviewsExpandScienceExpandEntertainmentExpandCarsExpandVideosExpandPodcastsExpandNewslettersExpandSubscribeOpenAI and Jony Ive’s ‘io’ brand has vanished, but their AI hardware deal remainsComments DrawerOpenAI and Jony Ive’s ‘io’ brand has vanished, but their AI hardware deal remainsReferences to the OpenAI tie-up with former Apple designer Jony Ive have been removed due to a lawsuit.References to the OpenAI tie-up with former Apple designer Jony Ive have been removed due to a lawsuit.by Jun 22, 2025, 9:44 PM UTCLinkFacebookThreadsImage: The VergeHayden Field is The Verge’s senior AI reporter. An AI beat reporter for more than five years, her work has also appeared in CNBC, MIT Technology Review, Wired UK, and other outlets.OpenAI has scrubbed mentions of io, the hardware startup co-founded by famous Apple designer Jony Ive, from its website and social media channels. The sudden change closely follows their recent announcement of and plans to create dedicated AI hardware.OpenAI tells The Verge the deal is still happening, but it scrubbed mentions due to a trademark lawsuit from Iyo, the hearing device startup spun out of Google’s moonshot factory.The announcement blog post and a nine-minute video featuring Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are no longer available. The blog post from Ive and Altman announcing the deal said, “The io team, focused on developing products that inspire, empower and enable, will now merge with OpenAI to work more intimately with the research, engineering and product teams in San Francisco.”OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood: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.See More: More in this streamSee allChatGPT’s daylong outage is nearly fixedJess WeatherbedJun 10CommentsComment Icon BubbleThere’s going to be a movie about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s ouster (and subsequent rehire).Hayden FieldJun 3CommentsComment Icon BubbleI/O versus io: Google and OpenAI can’t stop messing with each otherAlex HeathMay 23CommentsComment Icon BubbleMost PopularMost PopularInstallerA weekly newsletter by David Pierce designed to tell you everything you need to download, watch, read, listen to, and explore that fits in The Verge’s universe.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our and . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.More in Applebee’s and IHOP have plans for AIAmazon improves Kindle accessibility with new text spacing adjustmentsMicrosoft is blocking Google Chrome through its family safety featureTesla’s first robotaxi rides will have a ‘safety monitor’ in the passenger seatMeta announces Oakley smart glassesSpaceX Starship explodes again, this time on the groundApplebee’s and IHOP have plans for AIEmma RothJun 20CommentsComment Icon BubbleAmazon improves Kindle accessibility with new text spacing adjustmentsAndrew LiszewskiJun 20CommentsComment Icon BubbleMicrosoft is blocking Google Chrome through its family safety featureTom WarrenJun 20CommentsComment Icon BubbleTesla’s first robotaxi rides will have a ‘safety monitor’ in the passenger seatEmma RothJun 20CommentsComment Icon BubbleMeta announces Oakley smart glassesAlex HeathJun 20CommentsComment Icon BubbleSpaceX Starship explodes again, this time on the groundRichard LawlerJun 19CommentsComment Icon BubbleTop StoriesJun 22Tesla’s robotaxi is live: here are some of the first reactionsJun 2028 Years Later is a bleak fever dream with rage pumping through its veinsJun 21The Nintendo Switch 2 is an awesome upgrade for parents like meJun 22Weird-shaped notebooks make me want to write again Jun 20You sound like ChatGPTJun 21Inside the courthouse reshaping the future of the internetContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2025 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved, Famed Apple designer Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are facing a trademark suit filed by iyO, an AI hardware startup founded by former Google X employees. LoveFrom 2025-06-22T23:48:32Z, OpenAI removed all references to Jony Ive’s ‘io’ brand after a trademark lawsuit, but the $6.5 billion AI hardware deal continues. Apple’s 2025 Lineup News Deals Round-Ups How-To Jobs..