OpenAI has taken down a promotional video about its new hardware project with Jony Ive — but the deal is still on.
A Quick Look at What’s Going On
OpenAI recently launched a high-profile video that celebrated the partnership between its CEO, Sam Altman, and renowned former Apple designer Jony Ive. The video also introduced their new startup, io, backed by a massive $6.5 billion investment.
But just days later, OpenAI removed the video from its website and YouTube.
Is the deal in trouble? Not really.
According to journalist Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the partnership is still moving ahead as planned. The only issue right now is the name “io.”
So Why Was the Video Taken Down?
It’s all because of a trademark complaint.
A company called iyO, which came out of Google’s experimental division, Alphabet X, claims OpenAI’s use of the name “io” is too similar to theirs. They say it could confuse customers.
In response, a judge issued a temporary restraining order. That forced OpenAI to take down any promotional material using the name “io” — including the video.
OpenAI’s Official Statement
OpenAI updated the original announcement page with this message:
“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.”
They also made it clear that this has no impact on the actual partnership or project.
Who Is iyO?
- A startup spun out of Alphabet X, Google’s “moonshot factory.”
- Their first product is a pair of AI-powered earbuds.
- They’ve filed a trademark lawsuit against OpenAI.
- A judge thinks there may be enough similarity to cause confusion — at least for now.
What Happens Next?
Right now, OpenAI is reviewing its legal options. That could mean challenging the trademark claim, rebranding the project, or settling the issue in court.
Either way, the actual hardware project with Ive is still in motion, and the big funding behind it hasn’t changed.
In fact, if you’re curious, you can still watch the pulled video — it’s currently live on X (formerly Twitter).
The Bigger Picture
This whole situation is a good reminder: even tech giants need to double-check their naming choices. A catchy name like “io” might sound simple, but if it’s already taken — it can cause major headaches.
Still, what matters most here is that the OpenAI–Ive collaboration is alive and well. Legal issues aside, we’ll likely see more updates on the product soon — just maybe under a new name.
Key Points to Remember
- OpenAI took down a video about its new device venture with Jony Ive.
- The reason? A trademark dispute over the name “io” with a company called iyO.
- A judge issued a court order to remove materials using the “io” name.
- The $6.5 billion deal is still moving forward, and the project hasn’t been canceled.
- The original video is still viewable on X/Twitter for now.