Apple sues OpenAI over alleged trade secret theft
Apple alleges the misconduct was directed by OpenAi's senior leadership, including a long-time former employee. Apple filed a lawsuit Friday against OpenAI over allegations of trade secret theft and breach of contract. The iPhone maker alleges that this misconduct, which it says reveals a pattern of theft from OpenAI employees who previously worked at Apple, was directed by OpenAI's senior leadership, including Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan .
Key Takeaways
- The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.
- If true, it would be one of the largest threats to Apple's core hardware business to date.
Apple's former lead designer Jony Ive's device startup io was acquired by OpenAI last year in a $6.
- Apple also alleges that Chang Liu, who spent eight years at Apple as a senior systems electrical engineer, failed to return an Apple-issued laptop after leaving the company for OpenAI in 2026 and had used the computer to download confidential Apple technical documents.
Apple says in the complaint that the stolen documents included information about unannounced technologies, features, and products, including technical specifications, engineering presentations, and proprietary project data.
- Apple says its ongoing investigation revealed that OpenAI and its partners have even used Apple's confidential information while the AI model maker develops its own hardware product.
For instance, the filing references a proprietary metal finishing technique that was used by OpenAI after it allegedly misled a partner into believing it had Apple's permission to do so.
- Apple lacks visibility into what's been happening behind closed doors at OpenAI, where such misconduct is normalized and exemplified by leadership," the filing states.
Stats & Key Facts
- #Apple's former lead designer Jony Ive's device startup io was acquired by OpenAI last year in a $6.
- #5 billion deal to aid the AI company with its hardware ambitions.
- #Apple also alleges that Chang Liu, who spent eight years at Apple as a senior systems electrical engineer, failed to return an Apple-issued laptop after leaving the company for OpenAI in 2026 and had used the computer to download confidential Apple technical documents.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the U. District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses Tan of using Apple's confidential project code names during OpenAI's recruiting process, asking job candidates to bring in Apple hardware components to their interviews, coaching departing Apple employees on how to evade the company's security procedures, and asking for details about the company's unannounced products. Before joining OpenAI, Tan had spent 24 years at Apple, most recently as VP of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch.
The accusations come at a time when OpenAI is rumored to be developing its first hardware product , which would likely compete with the iPhone. In April, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested this device could be a smartphone that would rely on AI agents instead of apps. If true, it would be one of the largest threats to Apple's core hardware business to date.
Tan is not the only OpenAI employee referenced in the new complaint. Apple also alleges that Chang Liu, who spent eight years at Apple as a senior systems electrical engineer, failed to return an Apple-issued laptop after leaving the company for OpenAI in 2026 and had used the computer to download confidential Apple technical documents. Apple says in the complaint that the stolen documents included information about unannounced technologies, features, and products, including technical specifications, engineering presentations, and proprietary project data.
For more details please read the original article at TechCrunch AI.
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