OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared emails revealing a conversation with Jason Rugolo, founder of a rival device startup, iyO. Rugolo sought Altman’s support for his AI-hardware company, but Altman declined due to competition. Following a purchase by OpenAI of a device called io, similar to iyO, Rugolo expressed concern regarding trademark issues. Despite his efforts to engage with Altman, OpenAI ultimately chose not to work with Rugolo, highlighting the complexities of trademark disputes in tech.
"I'd love the opportunity to pitch you to invest $10MM in my AI-meets-audio hardware company, iyO," Rugolo wrote in a March 4th message. "We're launching the best possible hardware interface to interact with AI-agents, after having obsessively focused on this problem since 2018."
Right after OpenAI announced its purchase of io, Rugolo sent Altman an email stating, "I'm getting blown up on the names situation. I wanted to level with you here, I'm feeling a little vulnerable and exposed, david and goliath style."
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