Apple files lawsuit against OpenAI over alleged theft of product secrets
13 Jul 2026, 11:39 AMThe lawsuit marks a fresh flashpoint in the intensifying battle between major technology companies to dominate the next generation of AI-powered hardware.
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Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the Sam Altman-led artificial intelligence company of benefiting from confidential product information allegedly brought over by former employees at the tech giant.
Filed in a federal court in California, the lawsuit claims OpenAI's hardware division led by former Apple executive Tang Tan encouraged Apple employees to disclose proprietary information during the recruitment process.
According to the complaint, candidates were allegedly asked about unreleased Apple products, told to bring hardware components to interviews, and advised on how to avoid Apple's security protocols when leaving the company.
Tan, who spent more than two decades at Apple and most recently led product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch, is named as a central figure in the case.
The lawsuit comes as OpenAI pushes deeper into consumer hardware, with reports suggesting the company is developing AI-powered devices that could eventually compete with Apple's product lineup, including a possible AI-first smartphone.
Apple also accused former senior systems electrical engineer Chang Liu of retaining an Apple-issued laptop after joining OpenAI in 2026 and using it to access and download confidential documents. The company alleges the files included engineering presentations, technical specifications, and details of unreleased products.
The complaint also said that Liu shared confidential information with Apple employees considering jobs at OpenAI and coached them ahead of interviews.
Apple said it formally raised its concerns with OpenAI earlier this year but did not receive a response.
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