Apple has taken legal action against OpenAI, alleging that the AI company systematically stole trade secrets and used deceptive hiring tactics to build its own hardware platform. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in California, centers on three former Apple engineers who now hold senior roles at OpenAI: Tang Tan, former Apple Watch vice president; Chang Liu, an eight‑year veteran of iPhone hardware; and Yu‑Ting "Alyssa" Peng, who left Apple in April 2026. Apple claims the trio facilitated a flow of confidential information that could give OpenAI a shortcut to market.
According to the complaint, Liu failed to complete Apple’s standard off‑boarding steps after his departure, keeping at least one Apple‑owned computer and using a previously unknown authentication flaw to access the company’s cloud‑based storage weeks later. Apple says Liu downloaded dozens of files, including detailed specifications for unreleased products, engineering presentations, and manufacturing processes for Apple’s main logic boards. Liu allegedly shared the data with Peng, who continued to discuss Apple projects and vendor relationships while developing competing hardware for OpenAI.
Peng’s involvement, the filing alleges, went beyond passive receipt of information. She is accused of coordinating with Liu to copy files from Apple devices, guiding him on how to avoid detection by Apple’s security team, and relaying project details to OpenAI engineers. The lawsuit states that Peng kept Liu informed about Apple’s ongoing work, creating a steady stream of trade‑secret material that informed OpenAI’s hardware design efforts.
The third figure, Tang Tan, is portrayed as the architect of OpenAI’s recruitment strategy aimed at Apple talent. Apple says Tan asked prospective interviewees to bring proprietary components—batteries, system‑in‑package modules, multi‑layer boards, and shielding parts—for “show and tell” sessions. Internal messages on an Apple‑issued device show Tan directing a candidate to bring these parts and to prepare a “Technical Deep Dive” presentation that would reveal confidential Apple information. The complaint also alleges Tan shared an internal Apple off‑boarding guide with OpenAI, which the AI firm used to advise incoming hires on how to skirt Apple’s exit interviews and security checks.
Beyond employee poaching, Apple accuses OpenAI of misrepresenting its relationship with a trusted Apple supplier that performs a proprietary metal‑finishing technique. OpenAI allegedly convinced the partner that Apple had authorized the use of the process, even though no such permission existed. The lawsuit adds that OpenAI approached at least one other Apple supplier involved in power and battery manufacturing, using internal codenames and confidential details to extract information useful for its hardware ambitions.
OpenAI’s spokesperson, Drew Pusateri, responded to the filing by denying any intent to appropriate another company’s trade secrets. "We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets," Pusateri told The Verge. "We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere."
The case highlights a growing tension between tech giants and emerging AI firms as the latter rush to develop proprietary hardware. Apple says the pattern of former employees ignoring security outreach and evading standard off‑boarding procedures is a recent trend, prompting the company to seek legal protection for its intellectual property. The lawsuit seeks injunctions to stop OpenAI from using the alleged stolen information and damages for the purported violations.
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