What happens when the visionary behind the iPhone teams up with the company that brought us ChatGPT? A breakthrough in tech, perhaps — but for now, it's mostly mystery.
OpenAI, working with a hardware team that originated from Jony Ive’s famed design studio, is developing its first consumer device. But despite the buzz and speculation, court documents have confirmed one thing: it won’t be a wearable or an in-ear gadget.
According to statements from the project's chief hardware officer, the product is still deep in development and won’t see the light of day before 2026. These details surfaced during a trademark dispute with Iyo, an audio-focused startup that claims OpenAI knowingly infringed on its brand name. The conflict has already forced OpenAI to stop using the name “io” publicly for its hardware team.
Things get even murkier behind the scenes. Iyo alleges that OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman had previously shown interest in their product and even requested a demo — long before launching anything of their own. Internal emails suggest the hardware team explored a wide range of form factors, from desktop and mobile devices to wearables, with some concepts involving 3D ear scanning for better ergonomics.
As if that weren’t enough, Altman reportedly turned down an investment pitch from Iyo, saying he was “working on something competitive.”
So what exactly is this device? No one outside OpenAI knows for sure. But with Jony Ive leading design and Sam Altman steering the vision, expectations are sky-high — even if we’ll have to wait a while to see what they’re building.