SAN FRANCISCO — Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company and two former Apple employees of misappropriating trade secrets in an alleged effort to accelerate OpenAI's consumer hardware ambitions, marking a sharp escalation in a dispute between two companies that have also been commercial partners.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that former Apple employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan improperly obtained and used confidential information related to unreleased products, manufacturing processes and supply-chain strategies for the benefit of OpenAI and its hardware initiatives. Apple also names OpenAI and affiliated entities as defendants.
According to the lawsuit, Apple alleges a coordinated effort in which departing employees retained confidential materials, accessed internal systems without authorization and encouraged the disclosure of proprietary information during recruiting and hiring activities. The company further alleges that job candidates were asked to bring hardware components and confidential knowledge to interviews and that Apple supplier relationships were improperly targeted. Those allegations have not been proven in court.
Apple said in the filing that the case concerns "former employees stealing Apple's trade secrets for the benefit of OpenAI" and argued that the alleged conduct reflected a broader institutional pattern rather than isolated actions. The company is seeking injunctive relief as well as damages to prevent any further use or disclosure of its confidential information.
OpenAI denied the allegations.
"We have no interest in other companies' trade secrets," an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the company is focused on developing its own technology and intends to defend itself against Apple's claims.
The lawsuit comes amid intensifying competition among major technology companies to develop AI-powered consumer devices beyond smartphones. Tang, formerly an Apple executive responsible for key hardware programs, joined OpenAI to help lead its hardware efforts after leaving the iPhone maker.
Legal experts cited in public reporting said Apple will need to substantiate its allegations with evidence demonstrating that confidential information was improperly acquired or used, rather than relying solely on the movement of employees between companies, which is common in California's technology sector.
As of July 12, neither the federal court nor any other authority had ruled on the merits of Apple's allegations. The litigation remains at an early stage, with further court proceedings expected as the defendants respond to the complaint.
