Apple Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI for Trade Secret Theft

Apple has filed a federal lawsuit in California against OpenAI and its key employees, accusing them of systematically stealing trade secrets. The lawsuit claims the company, led by former Apple engineers, actively poached talent to gain access to confidential data. Specifically, it names Tan Tan, Apple's former VP of Product Design, and Chang Liu, a senior engineer, who joined OpenAI and allegedly used their insider knowledge to advance the company's hardware projects.

The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI not only poached employees but also instructed them to retain access to Apple's confidential information. For example, job candidates were reportedly advised to avoid disclosing their new employer and to remain at their current roles for as long as possible. Additionally, the lawsuit claims Liu failed to return a corporate laptop and exploited a vulnerability in Apple's authentication system to access files.

Apple is seeking damages, a permanent injunction, and a jury trial, arguing that OpenAI's hardware initiatives are built on illegally obtained data. OpenAI has not yet commented on the allegations. Previously, reports suggested OpenAI was considering a countersuit against Apple over expected deeper integration of ChatGPT into iOS.