New court filings reveal OpenAI and Jony Ive’s mysterious AI hardware isn’t an in-ear or wearable device. Here’s what we know so far about this next-gen “third device.”
OpenAI’s Mysterious AI Gadget Won’t Sit in Your Ear, or on Your Wrist
New court documents just confirmed it: the much-hyped AI device from Jony Ive and OpenAI is not going to be an in-ear or wearable gadget. So if you were hoping to drape a futuristic AI necklace around your neck or jam a digital assistant into your ear—hold that thought.
What’s Actually Going On?
OpenAI has been quietly working with legendary former Apple designer Jony Ive on a new consumer device. This mystery gadget is pitched as a “third core device” which is something you’ll carry or place next to your iPhone and MacBook Pro. While much of the project remains under tight wraps, recent court filings picked up by MacRumors have offered rare, juicy tidbits about what it won’t be.
The scoop comes courtesy of an ongoing trademark lawsuit. Google-backed startup iyO, which makes custom in-ear “audio computers,” claims OpenAI’s hardware subsidiary io willfully infringed on its brand. In the process of defending itself, io co-founder and former Apple exec Tang Tan confirmed in court documents that the upcoming device is “not an in-ear device, nor a wearable device.”
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This info also debunks earlier speculation by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the device would hang from your neck like high-tech jewelry. Sorry, Kuo, looks like Ive prefers his gadgets off-body.
So… What is This Thing?
That’s still mostly a mystery. Previous leaks say the device will be pocket-sized, screenless, and contextually aware. Like an always-on AI companion that blends into your life rather than demanding screen time. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly called it “the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen.” Not dramatic at all.
OpenAI acquired io for a whopping $6.5 billion, and Altman’s team is dreaming big. The goal? To ship 100 million units faster than any product launch in tech history, possibly by late 2026.
Final Thoughts (for Now)
For now, all we know for sure is that you won’t be wearing this device, and that it’s still at least a year away. But with Ive’s design chops and OpenAI’s ambition, expectations are sky-high. Whether this will be the iPhone moment for AI hardware or another overpromised gadget remains to be seen. Just please, no butterfly keyboards this time.
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