Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft

Apple Inc. has filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California accusing OpenAI of orchestrating a campaign to steal proprietary trade secrets. Apple alleges that OpenAI executives directed the recruitment of former Apple employees to obtain confidential information regarding unannounced devices, semiconductor architecture, and custom silicon designs. Specifically, Apple claims former engineer Chang Liu exploited an authentication bug to download technical files and that OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan used internal project codenames to elicit secrets from job candidates.

Apple is seeking a preliminary injunction to bar OpenAI, its commercial arm io Products, and former employees from using the disputed data. The company has requested expedited discovery and depositions, suggesting that up to 11 additional former employees may have been involved in the misappropriation of intellectual property.

OpenAI has denied the allegations, publishing a public rebuttal titled "Apple is getting this wrong." The company argues the lawsuit is a pretext for Apple's inability to retain AI talent and claims that Apple failed to revoke system access for departing staff. OpenAI released redacted iMessages suggesting Apple employees contacted Liu for help with files after he left the company. OpenAI has since moved to dismiss the lawsuit, calling it "rotten to its core."