Court says no to OpenAI's 'io' hardware name

Business Dec 09, 2025

OpenAI and Jony Ive just got blocked from using the "io" name for their upcoming AI hardware, thanks to a court ruling siding with startup iyO.
The judges said "IO" and "iyO" are just too similar and could easily confuse people, so both companies can't use the same branding for their devices.

What's next for OpenAI?

The legal fight isn't over—it could drag on until 2028, with the next hearing set for April 2026.
Even so, OpenAI still plans to launch its first hardware device between late 2026 and 2027, but under a brand-new name.
For now, they've wiped all "io" mentions from their website and promos to respect the court's decision.