Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the ChatGPT maker of stealing its trade secrets. In its complaint, the tech giant claims that OpenAI encouraged Apple employees to share information, components, drawings and other confidential materials related to upcoming products. This legal battle marks a major turn in the relationship between the two companies. For those unaware, Apple and OpenAI have worked closely in recent years on AI features. However, tensions have reportedly been increased as OpenAI expands into hardware and hires former Apple employees. Keep reading for the details.
In the complaint, Apple claims OpenAI carried out a coordinated effort to obtain confidential information about upcoming products. According to the lawsuit, more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI, reports Bloomberg. “At every level, from members of its technical staff to its chief hardware officer, and in coordination with business partners, OpenAI has been stealing Apple’s trade secrets and confidential information,” the iPhone maker said in the lawsuit. “As a natural result, OpenAI’s nascent hardware business now rests on the shakiest of foundations, rotten to its core by its illegal reliance on misappropriated trade secrets.”
Apple has even named OpenAI’s chief hardware officer Tang Tan in the case. The tech giant alleges that Tan encouraged Apple employees to discuss unreleased products during job interviews. Tan previously served as Apple’s vice president of product design. He worked on major products including the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods.
Apple has also named former iPhone hardware engineer Chang Liu in the lawsuit. Liu joined OpenAI in January. Apple claims he accessed and downloaded dozens of its confidential hardware files for OpenAI. “Over several weeks, while developing hardware for OpenAI, Mr. Liu surreptitiously accessed and downloaded dozens of Apple’s confidential hardware-related files, including voluminous, detailed information about unreleased products, engineering presentations, technical specifications and proprietary project data,” according to the lawsuit.
Apple further claims OpenAI coached departing employees on how to handle their exits. According to the lawsuit, employees were advised not to reveal their next employer. Apple says this allowed them to keep access to confidential information for longer.
The iPhone maker wants OpenAI to stop these alleged practices and destroy any Apple-owned confidential material. It also wants OpenAI to redesign upcoming products if they use Apple’s proprietary technology.
Also read: OpenAI introduces ChatGPT Work, an AI agent powered by GPT 5.6 and Codex: Here is what it can do
OpenAI has denied having any interest in Apple’s trade secrets. Following the lawsuit, OpenAI Director of Strategic Communications Drew Pusateri shared the company’s response on X. “Our statement in response to this suit: We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere,” Pusateri wrote.
Well, I was also hoping OpenAI CEO Sam Altman would have something to say about the lawsuit. However, at the time of writing, he has not publicly commented on the matter.