Apple has filed a federal lawsuit in San Jose, California, against OpenAI. The tech giant accuses the artificial intelligence company of orchestrating an aggressive campaign to steal trade secrets and poach employees.
The legal action marks a dramatic escalation between the two firms, which partnered in 2024 to integrate ChatGPT into Apple products. Apple alleges OpenAI sought confidential information to develop its own consumer hardware.
"At every level... OpenAI has been stealing Apple's trade secrets," Apple stated in its 41-page complaint.
The lawsuit names OpenAI, its hardware subsidiary io Products-co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive-and two former Apple employees, including Tang Yew Tan, now OpenAI's chief hardware officer.
Apple alleges Tan, a 24-year veteran of the company, used confidential project code names during OpenAI interviews to probe candidates about unreleased Apple products. The complaint states about 400 former Apple staffers now work for OpenAI.
"Significant evidence has emerged suggesting individuals employed by OpenAI wrongfully took Apple's secret and confidential information," Apple said in a statement.
Apple is seeking damages and an injunction to bar OpenAI from using the information. The suit could complicate OpenAI's anticipated initial public offering.