Apple sues OpenAI over alleged trade secret theft

5 min read

Apple sued OpenAI in the Northern District of California, alleging a coordinated campaign to obtain confidential information about unreleased products. The complaint names OpenAI hardware chief Tang Tan and former Apple engineer Chang Liu, and alleges Mr. Liu downloaded dozens of confidential hardware files after joining OpenAI. Apple says more than 400 former Apple employees are now at OpenAI and that the startup acquired io Products for $6.5 billion while recruiting senior designers. Apple seeks court orders to stop the conduct, destroy proprietary material and force redesigns, a dispute that raises stakes in the global AI device race.

Apple alleges OpenAI solicited and received confidential hardware files.