Apple Sues OpenAI Alleging Former Employees Stole Trade Secrets for AI Hardware Development

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleges that former Apple employees stole trade secrets to help develop OpenAI's AI hardware products, according to a statement Apple provided to 9to5Mac.

The lawsuit was filed on Friday. The primary defendants are Chang Liu and Tang Tan, who were senior Apple employees before joining OpenAI's hardware team. Apple is seeking injunctive relief and damages.

The company claims it has substantial evidence that OpenAI employees used their former Apple credentials to access the company's networks and copy confidential files.

What Apple Alleges Against OpenAI and Who Is Named

The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI built its hardware project using confidential information stolen from Apple. The specific claims include that more than 400 former Apple employees, many of whom had access to unreleased Apple products, joined OpenAI.

Among them are Chang Liu, a senior electrical engineer at Apple for eight years before moving to OpenAI in January, and Tang Tan, who helped design the iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch.

It is alleged that Liu and Tan led a pattern of hiring former Apple employees and advising them on how to extract files and devices while avoiding security measures.

Liu reportedly shared messages celebrating the exploit with a former colleague. The lawsuit also claims that OpenAI misled Apple's third-party partners into revealing details of manufacturing techniques, suggesting it had Apple's approval.

Additionally, OpenAI is accused of gathering information about power, batteries, and other components from Apple’s partners. Apple stated that it brought these concerns to OpenAI in February but did not receive a response.

Tang Tan led the design of the iPhone and Apple Watch at Apple before leaving in 2024 to co-found a hardware startup called io with fellow Apple design veteran Jony Ive.

OpenAI later acquired io, which brought Tan into OpenAI's h…