Apple Accuses OpenAI of Stealing Trade Secrets — CNN
Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the company of illegally using its confidential developments. Apple claims that former Apple employees may have passed on confidential materials to a competitor, which were then used to create a new artificial intelligence device.
OpenAI denies all allegations and states that it does not use others’ trade secrets. At the same time, according to media reports, this legal dispute could affect the launch of the company’s new AI gadget and its preparations for an initial public offering.
Apple filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. In the complaint, the company accuses OpenAI of misappropriating trade secrets and breaching contractual obligations. At the center of the case are two former Apple employees—Chang Liu and Tan Tan. After being laid off, they joined OpenAI, where they are working on the company’s hardware development.
Apple claims that prior to their departure, they gained access to a large amount of internal information. This includes technical documentation, engineering presentations, and data on products that had not yet been publicly unveiled. According to the plaintiff, Tan may also have used confidential information while recruiting new employees for OpenAI and shared information about Apple’s suppliers with the company.
In addition, the lawsuit states that some Apple employees were allegedly advised on how to resign in a way that would allow them to take valuable internal materials with them. Separately, the case files mention io Products, a company founded by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive. Last year, OpenAI acquired this startup to develop its own hardware division. Ive himself is not a defendant in the case.
OpenAI categorically denies all allegations. “We are not interested in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on creating innovative technologies that empower people around the world,” said company spokesperson Drew Pusateri.
According to CNN, the lawsuit could complicate the launch of OpenAI’s new AI-powered device, which is expected to be unveiled later this year. The case could also impact the company’s preparations for a potential initial public offering (IPO). The conflict marks a new phase in the competition between the two tech giants. Despite the partnership announced by Apple and OpenAI in 2024 to integrate ChatGPT into Apple products, the companies are actively competing for engineers and new developments.
According to CNN, OpenAI has already recruited at least ten former Apple employees to work on developing the company’s new hardware division. This was reported by CNN.
OpenAI has announced that it is discontinuing support for the AI-powered Atlas browser. Some of its features will be integrated into the ChatGPT desktop app and the Google Chrome browser extension.
