The criticism alleges a coordinated effort by two former Apple staff and OpenAI to steal confidential info.
Printed On 10 Jul 2026
Apple has sued OpenAI and two former staff, alleging misappropriation of its commerce secrets and techniques as the synthetic intelligence firm seeks to construct its personal {hardware} for ChatGPT, a significant rupture in a partnership between the iPhone maker and the AI big.
The criticism, filed in a California federal court docket on Friday, alleges a coordinated effort to steal Apple’s confidential info, together with product designs, manufacturing processes and provide chain methods.
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OpenAI didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The lawsuit names Chang Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer, and Tang Yew Tan, a former vice chairman of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch, as defendants, together with the OpenAI Basis, OpenAI Group PBC and io Merchandise. Neither defendant instantly responded to a request for remark.
Apple alleged that Liu did not return a company-issued work laptop computer and later used an authentication bug to entry Apple’s inside community, downloading “dozens of Apple’s confidential hardware-related information”.
The iPhone maker additionally claimed that OpenAI’s {hardware} chief Tan had been “methodically utilizing Apple’s confidential info to profit OpenAI” by emailing himself details about Apple suppliers and inside business summaries earlier than his departure.
Apple alleged that Tan inspired Apple staff to carry elements from Apple to job interviews at OpenAI for “present and inform” classes, citing an incident in its submitting the place one OpenAI job candidate allegedly stated that he “didn’t even know we may take these from the workplace”.
Greater than 400 former Apple staff now work for OpenAI, Apple stated within the submitting, including that “it’s not shocking” that a few of them have data of its confidential info.
“That OpenAI now employs individuals who have been as soon as entrusted with Apple’s commerce secrets and techniques doesn’t entitle OpenAI to make use of that info to jumpstart its {hardware} efforts,” the iPhone maker wrote in its criticism.
OpenAI has by no means stated precisely what sort of machine it’s constructing, however has described it as an effort to discover a new method to work together with AI that goes past “conventional merchandise and interfaces”. It’s a part of a broader push to create a bodily embodiment of the most recent AI advances, a decade after Amazon and Google launched screen-free speaking audio system into properties.
The lawsuit claims the hassle was constructed partly on data stolen from Apple.
Apple additionally alleged that OpenAI staff sought confidential info from the corporate’s suppliers.
At one level, Apple stated, considered one of its suppliers used a secret steel ending method for OpenAI, on the idea that the AI firm had Apple’s permission to make use of the method.
OpenAI purchased {hardware} startup io Merchandise, based by former Apple designer Jony Ive, final yr in a $6.5bn deal, in a push to maneuver past software program into shopper {hardware}. Ive shouldn’t be named within the lawsuit.
Strained relationship
Tensions between the 2 tech firms have strained their relationship, because the race to develop AI merchandise has intensified competitors for expertise and proprietary expertise.
In its criticism, Apple claimed it wrote to OpenAI in February with issues that its confidential info was making its method to OpenAI, asking to debate the matter, however obtained no reply.
An individual acquainted with the matter informed the Reuters information company in Might that OpenAI was exploring authorized choices in opposition to Apple, together with notifying the expertise big of a breach of contract however doubtlessly not submitting a full lawsuit.
In 2024, Apple introduced the combination of its Apple Intelligence expertise throughout its apps, together with Siri, and introduced OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT to its units.
Their partnership permits customers to entry ChatGPT outcomes by means of Siri, whereas iPhone customers also can join ChatGPT memberships instantly from the iOS settings menu.
Apple rolled out a long-delayed overhaul of Siri final month. The replace comes two years after Apple first promised main upgrades.
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