Apple is suing OpenAI, for allegedly stealing trade secrets that will likely help the artificial intelligence (AI) company build its rumoured lineup of AI hardware devices. In its complaint filed at the US District Court in San Jose, Apple says this is “about Apple’s former employees stealing Apple’s trade secrets for the benefit of OpenAI”.
Some of the methods include using insider information to extract trade secrets from Apple partners across manufacturing and supply chains, as well as employees appearing for OpenAI’s job interviews. OpenAI is believed to be building an AI hardware portfolio for consumers, including something that supposedly resembles a ‘puck’ that’s voice controlled, and a wearable pendent with an integrated camera as well as a microphone.
They further note that Apple makes efforts to keep its famous technology research and product development, competent tech, proprietary testing and validation, manufacturing, and supply chain processes, confidential, processes that OpenAI seems to be allegedly specifically targeting.
“Trade secrets spanning Apple’s hardware operations collectively constitute one of the most valuable intellectual assets in all of American business. They enable Apple to bring new products with unique features to consumers at extraordinary speed and scale,” the complaint goes on to explain, listing instances of a number of employees who have subsequently joined OpenAI and used unprofessional methods to retain information.
These former employees are parties to the complaint.
Apple details Chang Liu, who worked for 8 years at Apple as a Senior System Electrical Engineer, failing to return an Apple-issued work laptop and leaving a message on a former colleague’s work laptop which reads, “I still have another computer” on which he planned to access Apple’s information.
There’s also an illustration of Tang Yew Tan, who worked at Apple for 24 years and was most recently Apple’s Video President of Product Design for iPhone and Apple Watch. He joined OpenAI as Chief Hardware Officer — in the months before leaving Apple, he reportedly met with OpenAI or its affiliates and discussed meetings with a key Apple supplier.
The complaint also notes that Tan specifically interviews current Apple employees looking to change jobs, and asks them to bring “actual parts” to be able to elicit more confidential information.
“OpenAI and its cohorts have been engaging in a coordinated pattern of misconduct at an institutional level as well. This includes io (Sir Jony Ive’s hardware startup, which OpenAI acquired in 2025), a venture company founded by Mr. Tan and other former Apple leaders,” the complaint reads, further adding that OpenAI through their employees or partners are using confidential Apple information to approach Apple’s trusted partners to “advance OpenAI’s efforts to enter the consumer hardware market”.
OpenAI has so far not responded to HT’s request for comment.
In the complaint, Apple also states that with “over four hundred former Apple employees now working at OpenAI, it is not surprising that certain OpenAI personnel have knowledge of Apple’s confidential and proprietary information, which they are obligated to keep confidential.”
Apple says they have previously written to OpenAI raising these concerns, but the AI company didn’t respond. Apple is calling for a preliminary and permanent injunction, as well as “exemplary damages, based on Defendants’ wilful and malicious appropriation of trade secrets.”
