Apple escalated its dispute with OpenAI to the courtroom on Friday, filing a complaint that accuses the artificial‑intelligence firm of systematically pilfering the iPhone maker’s confidential hardware information. The lawsuit, lodged in the Northern District of California, names OpenAI’s senior leadership and two former Apple engineers as defendants, alleging a coordinated effort to extract trade secrets that could give the AI company an unfair edge in its nascent hardware business.
Central to the complaint is Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, who spent 24 years at Apple, most recently as vice president of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple alleges Tan used internal project code names during OpenAI’s recruiting drive, instructed job candidates to bring Apple hardware to interviews, and coached departing Apple staff on how to evade the company’s security protocols. The filing claims Tan also solicited details about Apple’s unannounced products, effectively turning OpenAI’s hiring process into a conduit for stolen information.
Another former Apple employee, senior systems electrical engineer Chang Liu, is also accused of wrongdoing. Liu left Apple for OpenAI in 2026, allegedly keeping an Apple‑issued laptop that he used to download confidential technical documents. Those documents, according to Apple, covered specifications, engineering presentations, and proprietary project data for products that have not yet been announced. The complaint further alleges Liu shared the material with other Apple staff who were interviewing with OpenAI, advising them on what to study before their interviews.
Apple says its internal investigation uncovered a pattern of behavior that extends beyond individual misconduct. The company claims OpenAI asked prospective hires to bring designs and prototypes to interviews and to answer detailed questions about component selection and vendor processes. Apple also alleges that OpenAI and a partner used a proprietary metal‑finishing technique that belonged to Apple, after misleading the partner into believing the method was cleared for use.
The lawsuit seeks a court order barring OpenAI from using or disclosing Apple’s trade secrets, the return of any Apple materials in its possession, and the preservation of evidence related to the alleged theft. Apple’s filing characterizes the alleged conduct as “the tip of the iceberg,” warning that OpenAI’s hardware ambitions rest on a foundation of misappropriated information.
In a prepared statement, Apple emphasized its commitment to protecting the innovations of its teams. “Significant evidence has emerged suggesting individuals employed by OpenAI wrongfully took Apple’s secret and confidential information regarding our unreleased technologies, processes, and products,” the statement read. “We will always defend our teams’ hard work and innovations, and we are taking all appropriate steps to do so.”
OpenAI’s response, issued after the story’s publication, was brief. A post on X (formerly Twitter) read: “We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.” The company did not comment further on the specific allegations.
The filing arrives at a time when industry analysts speculate that OpenAI is developing its first hardware product, potentially a smartphone that relies on AI agents instead of traditional apps. If true, such a device could challenge Apple’s core hardware business, making the stakes of the lawsuit especially high.
Legal experts note that Apple’s move to sue, rather than continue an internal investigation, gives the company a chance to force OpenAI to disclose the extent of its alleged data collection through the discovery process. The case also highlights the growing tension between legacy hardware manufacturers and fast‑moving AI firms eager to expand into physical products.
The dispute underscores a broader trend of tech companies guarding their intellectual property more aggressively as competition intensifies across hardware and software domains. With both firms poised to shape the next generation of consumer technology, the courtroom will likely become another battleground for control over the future of AI‑powered devices.
Este artículo fue escrito con la asistencia de IA.
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