Apple Sues OpenAI: Trade Secret Theft Allegations

Apple has accused OpenAI of stealing trade secrets. This comes as OpenAI works to build its own hardware for ChatGPT. Apple filed a lawsuit in a California federal court. It claims OpenAI encouraged Apple employees it was recruiting to share confidential information. Apple says OpenAI even guided them on how to avoid scrutiny. Two former Apple employees now working for OpenAI are named as defendants. One is Tang Tan, who helped design the iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPod. He is now OpenAI's chief hardware officer. The other is Chang Liu, a former electrical engineer Apple says it entrusted with sensitive product development. Liu left Apple to join OpenAI earlier this year. OpenAI says it is reviewing the filing. A spokesperson for OpenAI stated the company has "no interest in other companies' trade secrets" and remains focused on building innovative technology. Apple's lawsuit claims OpenAI's hardware business relies on knowledge stolen from Apple. Apple says it uncovered a "pattern of theft" of its trade secrets by former employees who moved to OpenAI. The lawsuit alleges both Liu and Tan accessed and downloaded confidential Apple files. For example, Apple claims Liu downloaded several confidential hardware-related files to an Apple-issued device he kept.