Apple sues OpenAI over alleged theft of confidential hardware information
Apple has filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of recruiting former Apple staff and misusing trade secrets to accelerate its hardware division, which OpenAI denies.
Apple filed a 40-page complaint alleging that OpenAI recruited current Apple employees and obtained confidential designs, manufacturing details and testing procedures. The suit claims a former Apple engineer, Liu, kept a company-issued MacBook, accessed internal file servers through a software bug and downloaded proprietary materials while already employed by OpenAI. Liu reportedly messaged an Apple colleague, Alyssa Peng, with a joking note about the access, and Peng later assisted in obtaining further data before joining OpenAI herself.
Apple says the recruitment strategy included encouraging prospective hires to study confidential Apple materials before interviews and to bring hardware components to “show-and-tell” sessions at OpenAI offices. The complaint cites instances where interviewees were asked to disclose unreleased project information and to bring prototypes such as batteries and logic boards.
OpenAI responded that it has “no interest in other companies’ trade secrets” and emphasized its focus on building innovative technology. > “We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere,” a company spokesperson said.
The dispute follows the departure of former Apple executive Tang Tan, who left Apple in early 2024 to become OpenAI’s chief hardware officer. Tan, who previously oversaw iPhone and Apple Watch design, is alleged to have coordinated the alleged information-gathering efforts. Apple also notes that many of OpenAI’s recent hires came from Apple’s hardware engineering division, including the former head of Apple’s smart-glasses program.
Apple says it attempted to resolve the matter informally in February, warning OpenAI that confidential information had been transferred and requesting an investigation, but received no response. The lawsuit seeks to halt the alleged misuse of trade secrets and to address what Apple describes as a systematic effort to replicate its product-development processes within OpenAI.