Tech Beetle briefing IN AI

Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing trade secrets, ChatGPT maker responds

Essential brief

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the company of stealing trade secrets through the recruitment of former Apple employees. The complaint alleges that OpenAI encouraged these employ

Key topics

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Key facts

Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing trade secrets through former employees.

OpenAI’s hardware division is led by a former Apple executive implicated in the lawsuit.

Apple alleges OpenAI encouraged employees to share confidential information during interviews.

OpenAI denies the allegations and states it has no interest in other companies’ trade secrets.

Highlights

Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI on July 11, 2026, alleging trade secret theft.

Over 400 former Apple employees currently work at OpenAI, according to Apple.

Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer and former Apple VP, is named in the lawsuit.

Chang Liu, a former Apple engineer, is accused of downloading confidential Apple files.

Apple seeks to stop OpenAI’s alleged practices and demands destruction of confidential materials.

Why it matters

This lawsuit underscores the increasing competition and legal challenges emerging as AI companies expand into hardware development. The case highlights concerns about intellectual property protection amid talent mobility in the tech industry. The outcome could influence how companies manage employee transitions and safeguard proprietary information in the evolving AI landscape.

Apple has initiated legal action against OpenAI, accusing the AI company of misappropriating its trade secrets. The lawsuit claims that OpenAI systematically encouraged former Apple employees to disclose confidential information, including components, drawings, and other sensitive materials related to upcoming Apple products. This marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two companies, which have collaborated on AI features in recent years.

According to the complaint, over 400 former Apple employees are now working at OpenAI. Apple alleges that OpenAI's hardware division, led by Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan—a former Apple vice president of product design—relies heavily on stolen trade secrets. The lawsuit states that Tan encouraged Apple employees to discuss unreleased products during job interviews.

Apple also named former iPhone hardware engineer Chang Liu, who joined OpenAI in January, accusing him of accessing and downloading numerous confidential hardware files, including detailed information about unreleased products and proprietary project data. The complaint further alleges that OpenAI coached departing Apple employees to conceal their new employment to maintain access to confidential information longer.

Apple is seeking an injunction to halt these practices, the destruction of any Apple-owned confidential materials in OpenAI's possession, and a redesign of any OpenAI products that incorporate Apple’s proprietary technology.

In response, OpenAI denied any interest in Apple’s trade secrets. Drew Pusateri, OpenAI’s Director of Strategic Communications, stated that the company remains focused on developing innovative technology and has no involvement in misappropriating trade secrets. As of now, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has not publicly commented on the lawsuit.

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