Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the company of stealing trade secrets to help develop new AI hardware.
The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, claims OpenAI and two former Apple employees used confidential Apple information to support the company’s hardware projects. The former employees named in the lawsuit are Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer and a former Apple executive, and Chang Liu, a former Apple engineer.
Apple alleges the pair accessed sensitive company files before and after leaving the company. It also claims Tan encouraged Apple employees applying for jobs at OpenAI to bring actual Apple hardware parts to interviews.
OpenAI denied the accusations, saying it has “no interest in other companies’ trade secrets” and remains focused on creating innovative AI technology.
The legal battle comes as the relationship between Apple and OpenAI shifts from partnership to competition. The two companies previously worked together to bring ChatGPT features to Apple’s devices, but OpenAI has since expanded its hardware ambitions by hiring former Apple designer Jony Ive and acquiring his AI hardware startup, io Products.
Apple says it is taking legal action to protect its innovations and stop the alleged misuse of its confidential information.
