Apple sues OpenAI, its employees claiming theft of trade secrets
Apple has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company of obtaining confidential information through the recruitment of former Apple employees.
In the complaint filed on Friday, Apple alleges that OpenAI, design firm io Products and two former Apple executives engaged in “a pattern of theft” involving proprietary product development information and other confidential company materials.
According to the lawsuit, at least two long-serving Apple employees who later joined OpenAI improperly transferred internal company information by emailing sensitive documents to themselves before leaving Apple.
Responding to the allegations, OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told the BBC that the company has “no interest in other companies’ trade secrets.”
He added that OpenAI is reviewing the lawsuit and remains focused on developing innovative technology that benefits users worldwide.
An Apple spokesperson told the BBC the legal action was based on what the company described as “significant evidence.”
The lawsuit marks a sharp deterioration in relations between the two technology firms, which previously collaborated on artificial intelligence features.
Apple had integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its devices as part of efforts to expand its AI capabilities, although the company has since shifted more of its AI services to Google’s Gemini platform.
When Apple CEO Tim Cook announced in April that he would step down, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman publicly praised him, describing him as “a legend” and expressing gratitude for his contributions.
In its lawsuit, Apple claims OpenAI deliberately pursued a strategy aimed at acquiring confidential information about Apple’s future products and operations.
The company is also suing io Products, the design startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, which OpenAI acquired last year.
The two former Apple employees named in the lawsuit are Chang Liu, a senior electrical engineer who spent eight years at Apple, and Tang Yew Tan, who served the company for 24 years as a vice president overseeing iPhone and Apple Watch design before becoming OpenAI’s chief hardware officer.
Apple alleges the former employees had access to highly sensitive projects, manufacturing methods, supplier relationships and unreleased products, giving OpenAI insight into the company’s hardware plans.
The lawsuit further claims that OpenAI interviewers encouraged current Apple employees seeking jobs to disclose confidential information and even asked candidates to bring actual Apple hardware components to interviews for “show and tell.”
Apple argues that OpenAI, io Products and the former employees acted together to exploit Apple’s proprietary information in support of OpenAI’s plans to enter the consumer hardware market.
OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch its first hardware product, described as an AI-focused keyboard, later this month, while also pursuing plans to become a publicly traded company.
Apple contends that OpenAI’s alleged conduct reflects a broader corporate culture that tolerates the misuse of trade secrets, arguing that its emerging hardware business is built on improperly obtained confidential information.
The technology giant said it attempted to resolve its concerns with OpenAI through discussions in February but received no response.
Apple is asking the court to block OpenAI from accessing or using any of the disputed information and is also seeking unspecified financial damages.
Source: BBC
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