Apple has sued OpenAI, alleging that several former Apple employees—including OpenAI's Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan—stole confidential information about unreleased technologies and products to support OpenAI's nascent hardware business.
The lawsuit is significant because OpenAI is rumored to be developing a smartphone-like device that could pose a major threat to Apple's iPhone business, and Apple claims the company has already used misappropriated trade secrets in its hardware development.
What happened
Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI alleging that former Apple employees, including Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan and senior systems electrical engineer Chang Liu, misappropriated Apple trade secrets and confidential information about unreleased technologies and products. The complaint states that Tan used Apple's confidential project code names during recruiting, asked job candidates to bring Apple hardware components to interviews, and coached departing employees on evading Apple's security procedures; Liu allegedly failed to return an Apple-issued laptop and downloaded confidential Apple technical documents.
Why it matters
The lawsuit comes as OpenAI is rumored to be developing its first hardware product that could compete with the iPhone—one of Apple's core revenue drivers. Apple alleges that OpenAI has already used stolen Apple information, including a proprietary metal finishing technique, in its hardware development. For Apple and other companies protecting proprietary innovation, the case signals that trade secret theft by departing employees moving to competitors may represent a material business risk.
What to watch
Apple is asking the court to bar OpenAI from using or disclosing its trade secrets, require return of confidential materials, and preserve evidence. Apple sent a letter to OpenAI in February raising concerns and received no response, according to the complaint. The legal discovery process may reveal the full extent of the alleged misappropriation.
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The lawsuit reflects a high-stakes competitive dynamic around AI-driven hardware. Tang Tan, who had spent more than two decades at Apple designing iPhones and Apple Watches, moved to OpenAI as it pursues hardware ambitions—signaled by its $6.5 billion（約1兆円） acquisition of Jony Ive's device startup io last year. Industry analysts have suggested OpenAI's hardware project could be a smartphone reliant on AI agents rather than traditional apps, which would directly threaten Apple's largest product category.
Apple's legal strategy goes beyond the named employees. The complaint frames the alleged misconduct as systemic: OpenAI allegedly asked Apple job candidates to bring design prototypes and components to interviews, requested details about unannounced products, and guided departing Apple employees on how to circumvent Apple's security procedures. Apple's statement in the filing—"this is the tip of the iceberg"—indicates the company believes the discovered evidence may represent only a portion of the actual misappropriation. By taking the case to court, Apple gains access to the discovery process, which could expose the breadth of the alleged operation and the extent to which OpenAI's hardware roadmap relies on Apple's confidential methods and designs.
The timing is notable: Apple sent a warning letter in February and received no response before filing suit. This sequence may influence how a court evaluates OpenAI's intent and whether the company acted to remediate after notice.
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