OpenAI will not use the name “io” for its upcoming AI hardware devices, according to a court filing in a trademark infringement lawsuit. The company now expects its first device to ship no earlier than late February 2027.
Maxwell Zeff reports for Wired that the revelation came through a motion filed by OpenAI vice president Peter Welinder. In the document, Welinder states the company has decided against using “io” or “IYO” in any form for naming, advertising, or selling its AI hardware products.
The lawsuit was filed by audio device startup iyO, which sued OpenAI after the company acquired Jony Ive’s startup io for $6.5 billion in May 2025. The acquisition marked OpenAI’s largest deal to date.
OpenAI had previously announced plans to unveil its AI device in the second half of 2026. The first prototype is reportedly a screenless device designed to sit on a user’s desk alongside phones and laptops. According to the filing, OpenAI has not yet created packaging or marketing materials for the device.
An OpenAI spokesperson confirms the company will proceed with a new name to be announced later.
The news follows a viral but fake Super Bowl advertisement that circulated over the weekend, purportedly showing OpenAI’s device. The video featured actor Alexander Skarsgård and was widely shared on social media before OpenAI denied any involvement.
The trademark lawsuit has revealed more details about OpenAI’s hardware plans than the company likely intended to disclose publicly.
