SAN FRANCISCO, July 10: Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two former employees, accusing the artificial intelligence company of misappropriating confidential information as it develops its own consumer hardware.
The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that OpenAI employees who previously worked at Apple obtained sensitive details about unreleased products, engineering work and manufacturing processes.
Apple has specifically accused OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan and technical staffer Chang Liu, both former Apple employees, of involvement in the alleged misconduct. According to the lawsuit, the information sought included product designs, technical specifications, component details and supplier-related information.
Apple also alleged that candidates moving from the company to OpenAI were encouraged to disclose confidential information during the recruitment process. The complaint further claims that some candidates were asked to bring Apple hardware components to interviews.
The lawsuit comes as OpenAI expands beyond software and artificial intelligence services into consumer hardware. The company has been developing new devices as part of its broader strategy to make AI more accessible through dedicated hardware.
Apple said protecting its intellectual property and unreleased technologies was central to its decision to pursue legal action.
OpenAI rejected the allegations, saying it has no interest in other companies’ trade secrets and remains focused on developing technology for users.
The legal dispute could further intensify competition between the two technology giants as AI companies increasingly seek to combine advanced software with purpose-built devices.
The case also highlights the growing importance of intellectual property protection as major technology firms compete to develop the next generation of AI-powered consumer products.