Tech Explained: Here’s a simplified explanation of the latest technology update around Tech Explained: OpenAI AI hardware device faces serious 2027 setback in secretive ‘power play’ in Simple Termsand what it means for users..
OpenAI AI hardware device plans have reportedly been pushed back to at least February 2027, adding fresh uncertainty to one of Silicon Valley’s most closely watched hardware bets.
OpenAI AI hardware device hit by trademark fight
Court filings in a trademark infringement case brought by audio startup iyO indicate that OpenAI does not expect to ship its first consumer device, developed with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, before late February 2027.
The dispute stems from OpenAI’s 2025 acquisition of Ive’s hardware-focused startup io, valued at around 6.4-6.5 billion dollars in an all-stock deal.
IyO alleges OpenAI’s use of the “io” branding infringes its mark, and a court order last year temporarily barred OpenAI from using the name.
In the latest filing, OpenAI’s lawyers say the company has dropped plans to use “io” or any variation of it for AI-enabled hardware products and has created no packaging, branding or marketing materials so far.
OpenAI has also argued that a previously scheduled April 2026 injunction hearing is no longer necessary because the branding has been fully rethought.
What we know about the OpenAI AI hardware device
Despite the delay, the OpenAI AI hardware device remains highly anticipated, not least because of Ive’s track record with the iPhone and other Apple products.
Internal descriptions reviewed in earlier reports suggest a pocket-sized, screen-free “third core device” designed to sit alongside a laptop and smartphone, rather than replace them.
The gadget is not expected to be a wearable, headset or in-ear product, but a small object that can sit on a desk or slip into a pocket while understanding a user’s surroundings and daily routine.
Sam Altman has previously talked about building a “family of devices” with Ive and predicted unprecedented demand, including ambitions to reach 100 million units faster than any previous new product category.
For now, however, OpenAI has stayed publicly silent on features, pricing or software, with details largely emerging through legal documents and leaks.
Rumours, fake ads and the OpenAI AI hardware device
The delay coincides with a swirl of online speculation, including a recent viral claim that OpenAI scrapped a Super Bowl commercial unveiling the device.
A now-deleted Reddit post shared a video showing actor Alexander Skarsgård interacting with a metallic, puck-like gadget, which some users assumed was OpenAI’s hardware.
Senior OpenAI figures moved quickly to deny the story, calling the supposed advert “fake” and “totally fake”, and confirming that the company’s actual Super Bowl spot focused on its Codex coding tools instead.
The episode has underlined how secrecy around the OpenAI AI hardware device is fuelling elaborate hoaxes even before a prototype is shown in public.
What the OpenAI AI hardware device delay means
The shift to a 2027 window underscores how complex it is to turn cutting-edge AI into mass-market hardware, especially when legal, branding and design challenges collide.
OpenAI, now a central player in the global AI race, is attempting to define an entirely new category of device rather than a simple smartphone rival, which raises the stakes but also the risk of missteps.
For consumers and rivals, the delay offers more time: time for competitors to refine their own AI gadgets, and time for OpenAI and Ive to polish a product that will be judged against some of the most influential hardware in tech history.