OpenAI and Jony Ive’s hardware team io revealed what their first AI device won’t be. It’s not an in-ear gadget. It’s not a wearable. And don’t expect it until at least 2026.
These details came out in court filings tied to a trademark lawsuit. Tang Tan, io’s chief hardware officer and ex-Apple designer, said the prototype shown by Sam Altman is at least a year away from sale. The design isn’t final, but it’s definitely not going inside your ear or worn on your body.
Early work on the device included testing earbuds, hearing aids, and about 30 headphone models. The team looked at all kinds of form factors – desktop, mobile, wired, wireless, wearable, and portable – before narrowing down. 
An email from March shows io even thought about using 3D scans of human ears to help with ergonomics. But the final product won’t be an in-ear device.
In response to a personal investment offer from Iyo, an AI startup suing io, Sam Altman wrote:
"thanks but im working on something competitive so will respectfully pass!"
The launch timeline is solidly pushed back to 2026 or later.
More on the lawsuit and device design can be found in TechCrunch’s coverage.
