Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade Secret Misuse Linked To Hardware Plans

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two former employees, alleging that confidential company information was taken and used to support OpenAI’s plans in the consumer hardware segment.

The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, claims OpenAI used former Apple employees, recruitment efforts, and supplier relationships to access trade secrets related to hardware development. Apple has named former senior system electrical engineer Chang Liu and former product design executive Tang Yew Tan in the case. Apple alleged that Liu accessed internal systems and downloaded confidential hardware files, while Tan shared information related to suppliers and internal projects. OpenAI denied the allegations, stating that it does not use other companies’ trade secrets.

The lawsuit comes as OpenAI expands beyond software following its acquisition of io Products, a hardware startup founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive.