In brief
Apple has taken legal action against OpenAI and its former staff, claiming that the AI firm and a design startup founded by ex‑Apple executive Jony Ive, secretly acquired internal Apple data. The company accuses two former senior engineers and a former VP of design of emailing themselves sensitive documents while at Apple and aiding OpenAI’s hardware ambitions. OpenAI has denied any wrongdoing, stating it focuses solely on creating innovative technology. Apple seeks an injunction to prevent further use of its confidential information and is pursuing unspecified damages as it explores new AI hardware products.
Apple’s latest lawsuit accuses the artificial‑intelligence firm OpenAI, its former employees, and IO Products—a design startup founded by ex‑Apple design chief Jony Ive—of stealing trade secrets through a pattern of theft.
According to the filing, at least two long‑time Apple engineers who joined OpenAI allegedly used e‑mail to copy confidential internal documents. Apple says these data were crucial to OpenAI’s plans for consumer hardware, including a new keyboard that the company plans to launch this month.
OpenAI spokesman Drew Pusateri responded that the company has no interest in other companies’ trade secrets and is “focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.” The firm is presently reviewing the complaint.
Apple describes the alleged conduct as a concerted strategy to extract confidential information, arguing that it enables OpenAI’s nascent hardware business to advance on a “shakiest of foundations.” The lawsuit also claims that OpenAI’s interviewers have supposedly asked current Apple employees to bring actual Apple product parts to interviews, further compromising proprietary data.
Apple seeks an injunction to bar OpenAI from using any alleged confidential information and is asking for unspecified monetary damages. The suit highlights a complex shift in the relationship between Apple—once eager to embed ChatGPT into its devices—and OpenAI, which is pivoting toward a consumer hardware platform while also planning a public listing.
