Apple has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company of a systematic campaign to steal trade secrets. The legal action, filed in the Northern District of California, alleges that OpenAI recruited former Apple employees to extract confidential data, product designs, and manufacturing processes to accelerate its own entry into the consumer hardware market. Apple claims this effort was coordinated at high levels within OpenAI, involving the poaching of hundreds of staff members.
The dispute centers on allegations that OpenAI encouraged prospective hires to bring proprietary materials to job interviews for show-and-tell sessions. Apple specifically names Tang Tan, a former Apple vice president now serving as OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, and Chang Liu, a former Apple electrical engineer, as key figures in the alleged scheme. The complaint asserts that Liu exploited a security bug to download sensitive engineering files after his departure and failed to return company equipment.
Beyond personnel poaching, the lawsuit claims OpenAI misled Apple’s own suppliers to gain insights into proprietary manufacturing techniques. Apple argues that these actions have provided OpenAI with an unfair advantage in developing its upcoming hardware devices. The company is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent further use of its intellectual property, demanding that OpenAI destroy any misappropriated data.
OpenAI has denied the accusations, stating it has no interest in the trade secrets of other companies and remains focused on building innovative technology. As the two tech giants move toward a potential courtroom battle, the case highlights the intensifying competition in the AI hardware sector. The outcome could set significant precedents for how talent mobility and intellectual property are managed in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence industry.