OpenAI's choice to name new models 'Terra' and 'Luna' after a notorious cryptocurrency scam highlights a significant branding disconnect. This tone-deaf naming could erode trust with enterprise customers unfamiliar with or wary of the crypto space, associating their flagship products with financial collapse and fraud.

AI companies are intentionally branding themselves with names of common grocery items like Jalapeno, Avocado, and Broccoli. This strategy aims to counteract the 'artificial' nature of AI by associating it with the natural, familiar, and non-threatening qualities of food, potentially increasing user comfort and adoption.

The model's memorable name originated from a tired PM's last-minute decision for an internal codename. Its accidental, organic nature made it feel fun and 'Googly,' ultimately becoming a powerful, unplanned branding asset that boosted public recognition and adoption.

Google's AI product suite suffers from a confusing and fragmented branding strategy, with numerous distinct names like Gemini, Antigravity, AI Studio, Flow, Omni, Stitch, and Pomelli. This lack of a unified brand identity makes it difficult for users to navigate the ecosystem and understand how the different tools relate to one another.

Google named its new AI model 'Argon,' which derives from the Greek word for 'lazy' or 'inactive.' This follows a pattern in tech of using impressive-sounding names without researching their often-negative origins, revealing a potential blind spot in branding and diligence.

In the early days, Synthesia and peers decided "Generative AI" sounded too geeky and collectively chose to brand the space as "Synthetic Media." They later regretted this as "Generative AI" became the dominant term, costing them significant SEO advantages and brand association built over four years.

After years of underperformance, the 'Siri' name is synonymous with incompetence. Even with a complete technological overhaul, the brand carries too much negative equity. Apple may need to launch its new AI assistant under a different name to escape the perception of failure.

Despite technical capabilities, Grok's association with Elon Musk's controversial brand makes it a risk for large corporations. In contrast, Cursor's founder and brand project a welcoming, Stripe-like aesthetic. This makes them a more reassuring and palatable choice for enterprise buyers like Ford or GE, highlighting that brand perception is critical in B2B AI sales.

The popular AI agent project cycled through three names: Claudebot, Maltbot, and OpenClaw. The initial name caused brand confusion with Anthropic, while the second lacked appeal. The final name was secured only after the creator preemptively checked with OpenAI's CEO, underscoring the importance of branding and IP diligence.