Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the AI company of using former Apple employees to obtain confidential hardware information that could help accelerate its own device development.
According to the complaint, Apple says it uncovered what it describes as a “pattern of theft” involving trade secrets taken by employees who previously worked at the company.
The lawsuit targets not only OpenAI but also IO Products, the hardware startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive that OpenAI acquired in 2025. Apple has also named OpenAI’s Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan and former Apple engineer Chang Liu as defendants.
Apple claims that after leaving the company, Liu continued accessing Apple’s internal systems and downloaded dozens of confidential hardware files. The company alleges these files contained detailed information about unreleased products, engineering presentations, technical specifications, and proprietary project data. Apple further claims Liu advised another former Apple employee on how to copy confidential files while avoiding detection by the company’s security team before she also joined OpenAI.
In a statement, Apple said protecting its intellectual property is essential to its ability to develop innovative products. The company stated that it has gathered significant evidence suggesting OpenAI employees wrongfully obtained confidential information related to unreleased technologies, products, and internal processes, and that it intends to take every appropriate step to protect its innovations.
OpenAI denied the allegations. Company spokesperson Drew Pusateri said OpenAI has no interest in using competitors’ trade secrets and remains focused on developing technology that benefits people around the world.
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