Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the AI company of stealing trade secrets and confidential information while developing its upcoming AI hardware products.
The case, filed in the Northern District of California, claims OpenAI encouraged former Apple employees to share details about unreleased devices, engineering work, manufacturing processes, and supplier relationships. Apple says the alleged actions gave OpenAI an unfair advantage as it pushed deeper into the AI hardware market.
Apple claims OpenAI built its hardware effort using confidential Apple information
According to Apple, former executive Tang Tan and former engineer Chang Liu played key roles in obtaining confidential information after leaving the company. The lawsuit alleges that Tan encouraged Apple employees interviewing with OpenAI to discuss unreleased products and even asked some candidates to bring hardware components to interviews.
Apple also claims Liu accessed confidential company files after leaving and continued receiving internal updates from an Apple employee.
In its statement, Apple said it uncovered a broader pattern involving employees who later joined OpenAI and accused the company of creating an environment where confidential information became part of its hardware development efforts.
“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. 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.”
Meanwhile, OpenAI rejected the allegations and said it has “no interest in other companies’ trade secrets” while remaining focused on building innovative technology. Apple says it tried to resolve the matter privately earlier this year but received no response, leading to the lawsuit.
Apple is asking the court to stop OpenAI from using or possessing its confidential technology, destroy any proprietary materials obtained through the alleged misconduct, redesign products that rely on Apple’s technology, and award damages that will be determined during the trial. The lawsuit also names Tang Tan and Chang Liu for allegedly breaching their agreements with Apple.
