Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft
Apple reportedly filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two former Apple employees alleging misappropriating confidential information.
Apple has reportedly filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company and two former Apple employees of misappropriating confidential information to accelerate the development of AI-powered hardware, marking a sharp escalation in the rivalry between the two companies.
The complaint, filed in a California federal court, alleges that OpenAI orchestrated a systematic effort to obtain Apple’s proprietary technology through employee recruitment, supplier relationships, and confidential internal information.
Per an HRD US report, the lawsuit names OpenAI’s Chief Hardware Officer, Tang Tan, a former Apple executive with more than two decades at the company, and former Apple engineer Chang Liu as defendants.
According to the complaint, the pair retained access to sensitive Apple information and used confidential knowledge related to hardware development after joining OpenAI’s hardware initiative. Apple is also targeting io Products, the AI hardware venture associated with former Apple design chief Jony Ive and now linked to OpenAI’s consumer device ambitions.
Apple has alleged that OpenAI’s hiring practices extended beyond recruiting experienced engineers and instead encouraged candidates to disclose proprietary information during interviews, including confidential product designs and engineering details. The company argues that the alleged misconduct formed part of a broader strategy to accelerate OpenAI’s entry into the AI hardware market.
Denying the allegations, OpenAI has said, “We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”
If successful, the legal action could disrupt OpenAI’s hardware roadmap, which has emerged as one of the company’s most significant growth initiatives.
Apple has reportedly filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company and two former Apple employees of misappropriating confidential information to accelerate the development of AI-powered hardware, marking a sharp escalation in the rivalry between the two companies.
The complaint, filed in a California federal court, alleges that OpenAI orchestrated a systematic effort to obtain Apple’s proprietary technology through employee recruitment, supplier relationships, and confidential internal information.
Per an HRD US report, the lawsuit names OpenAI’s Chief Hardware Officer, Tang Tan, a former Apple executive with more than two decades at the company, and former Apple engineer Chang Liu as defendants.
According to the complaint, the pair retained access to sensitive Apple information and used confidential knowledge related to hardware development after joining OpenAI’s hardware initiative. Apple is also targeting io Products, the AI hardware venture associated with former Apple design chief Jony Ive and now linked to OpenAI’s consumer device ambitions.
Apple has alleged that OpenAI’s hiring practices extended beyond recruiting experienced engineers and instead encouraged candidates to disclose proprietary information during interviews, including confidential product designs and engineering details. The company argues that the alleged misconduct formed part of a broader strategy to accelerate OpenAI’s entry into the AI hardware market.
Denying the allegations, OpenAI has said, “We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”
If successful, the legal action could disrupt OpenAI’s hardware roadmap, which has emerged as one of the company’s most significant growth initiatives.