Apple on Friday sued OpenAI, claiming the artificial intelligence firm ran a campaign to obtain the iPhone maker’s trade secrets while developing its own consumer hardware. The complaint, lodged in federal court in San Jose, California, describes an organized push by OpenAI to recruit Apple staff and gather confidential data for its device project. The filing represents a sharp rise in friction between the two firms that agreed in 2024 to add ChatGPT features to Apple products. Relations have since worsened. Reports in May indicated OpenAI was preparing its own legal steps against Apple, saying the company had not sufficiently highlighted the ChatGPT integration. Apple stated in its 41-page document that OpenAI staff from technical roles to the chief hardware officer, along with partners, took trade secrets and private information. The case could hinder OpenAI’s expected public share offering. Valued near $852 billion after raising over $180 billion, OpenAI viewed hardware expansion as a key growth area. Evidence suggests OpenAI employees improperly obtained details on unreleased Apple technologies, processes and products, the company told AFP. It pledged to protect its staff innovations and pursue all necessary actions. OpenAI has not yet commented. The suit targets OpenAI, its hardware unit io Products co-founded by former Apple design leader Jony Ive, and two ex-Apple workers: Tang Yew Tan, now OpenAI hardware chief, and engineer Chang Liu. Apple seeks damages and a court order stopping use of its information, saying the action followed OpenAI’s lack of response to February concerns. Tan worked 24 years at Apple, lately as vice president of product design for iPhone and Watch, before helping start io Products, acquired by OpenAI for about $6.5 billion in 2025. The complaint alleges Tan used secret project names in OpenAI interviews to question candidates on unreleased Apple items. Roughly 400 OpenAI staff previously worked at Apple. Tan reportedly asked Apple employees to bring parts like batteries and circuit boards to interviews for demonstrations. Apple called its discoveries preliminary, noting limited insight into OpenAI operations. The complaint said OpenAI’s new hardware effort rests on shaky ground due to reliance on stolen secrets.
