Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Theft of Secret Hardware Plans

Apple Sues OpenAI, Claims AI Company Stole Secret Hardware Information

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company and two former Apple employees of stealing confidential information linked to unreleased products and hardware development.

The case marks one of the biggest legal disputes yet between two companies that were recently working together in the fast-growing AI market.

The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. Apple claims OpenAI carried out what it described as a coordinated effort to obtain trade secrets to support its plans to build AI-powered consumer devices.

The company says the actions went beyond the conduct of individual employees and reflected a wider pattern inside OpenAI.

Apple named OpenAI, its hardware chief, Tang Tan, and former Apple engineer Chang Liu among the defendants. Tan spent more than two decades at Apple, where he helped lead the design of products including the iPhone, Apple Watch and iPod before joining OpenAI. Liu joined OpenAI earlier this year after working on sensitive hardware projects at Apple.

According to the complaint, Apple believes Liu continued accessing internal company systems after leaving and downloaded confidential files covering unreleased hardware, engineering documents, technical specifications and project information. Apple also alleges Tan encouraged Apple employees interviewing with OpenAI to share details about products that had not yet been announced and even asked candidates to bring hardware components to interviews.

The lawsuit also claims OpenAI approached Apple suppliers by using knowledge of Apple's manufacturing processes and confidential supplier relationships. Apple argues these actions were intended to speed up OpenAI's work on its upcoming AI hardware products.

OpenAI has denied the allegations. In a public statement, the company said it has no interest in using another company's trade secrets and rejected Apple's claims. The company said it will defend itself in court.

The legal fight comes at a time when OpenAI is pushing deeper into hardware. Earlier this year, the company strengthened its hardware ambitions following its work with former Apple design chief Jony Ive on a new category of AI devices. Apple argues the lawsuit is necessary to protect years of research, engineering work and intellectual property.

The case also highlights the growing competition between major technology companies as they race to build the next generation of AI products. As more engineers move between companies, disputes over confidential information and trade secrets are becoming more common across the industry.

For now, the allegations remain unproven. The court will determine whether Apple has enough evidence to support its claims or whether OpenAI successfully defends its position.

Whatever the outcome, the lawsuit is expected to shape how technology companies handle hiring, product development and confidential information during the AI