More details have come out regarding the product OpenAI is building with Johny Ive in a recent lawsuit.
During the weekend OpenAI was forced to remove any mention of its partnership with Ive from its social media and website because it was branded as ‘io’ and a Google-backed startup called iyO has now sued it over copyright infringement.
iyO makes custom moulded earpiece computers and can even prove that OpenAI knew about it from an email chain when the AI company requested to test one of iyO’s products.
OpenAI design lead Tang Tan submitted documents to the court stating that the company tested a ton of different ear-based computers and hearing aids from a wide variety of companies but ultimately decided to not build an ear-based device so it is not in competition with iyO.
He also clarifies that their first device isn’t a wearable either which doesn’t leave the company with much wiggle room. Are they making a phone? or could it be something as simple as a small pebble-like device that sits on a table near you that you can talk to? It’s too soon to tell, but it is interesting that whatever they’re making isn’t designed to be worn.
The filing also explains that this mystery device will be on sale in around a year from now, so we won’t have long to wait.
A previous leak suggested that the device was pocket-sized and contextually aware of what the world is around you. There is also another rumour that says it will be small enough to wear around your neck as a necklace, but in my mind that makes it a wearable so it will be interesting to see how much OpenAI is trying to skirt the definition of a wearable in this lawsuit.
OpenAI is putting a lot of pressure on this new device with CEO Sam Altman telling people it’s the coolest piece of consumer tech ever used after he tested an early prototype. The company has also stated that it plans to ship 100 million units of the device faster than any other company in history. Judging by past AI device launches I don’t think that will happen, but if it does it will be a watershed moment for AI adoption in my eyes.
Source: United States Court of Northern California Via: MacRumors
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