Apple has sued OpenAI and two of its former employees, accusing the ChatGPT maker of misappropriating trade secrets to speed development of a consumer AI device that could challenge the iPhone. The complaint, filed July 10, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, marks a sharp escalation in a relationship that has curdled from partnership to rivalry in the space of two years.
July 10, 2026 · U.S. District Court, N.D. California
Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade-Secret Theft for a Rival AI Device
Apple accuses OpenAI and two former Apple employees of misappropriating confidential hardware know-how under the Defend Trade Secrets Act — seeking damages and an injunction as a two-year partnership curdles into rivalry.
400+
Former Apple employees now working at OpenAI, per the filing
$6.5B
OpenAI's 2025 acquisition of io Products, co-founded by Jony Ive
2
Named individual defendants, both ex-Apple hardware staff
The Two Named Defendants — Core Allegations
Tang Yew Tan
Now OpenAI chief hardware officer · 24-year Apple veteran (VP, iPhone & Watch design)
Emailed supplier info & internal summaries to himself while at Apple
Told job candidates to bring "actual" batteries and logic boards for "show and tell"
Chang Liu
Former Apple senior system electrical engineer · now at OpenAI
Allegedly failed to return an Apple-issued laptop on departure
Exploited an authentication bug to reach Apple's internal network, downloading dozens of confidential hardware files
From Partner to Rival — How Ties Soured
A two-year arc from integration deal to courtroom.
2024
Apple & OpenAI deal to integrate ChatGPT into Siri
→
2025
OpenAI buys io Products (~$6.5B), eyeing a consumer AI device
→
June 2026
Overhauled Siri drops ChatGPT — now relies on Google's Gemini
→
July 2026
Apple sues OpenAI for trade-secret theft
Apple's Case Looks Serious
Observers point to unusually concrete evidence — server logs, screenshots and the "bring physical components" instructions. Elon Musk has publicly sided with Apple.
Or a Timed Legal Maneuver
OpenAI denies any interest in others' trade secrets. Critics see a familiar Silicon Valley IP drama — and litigation used to slow a rival's push, echoing the Samsung patent wars.
Early stage, no product to judge. OpenAI's hardware remains unannounced — no specs, pricing or release timeline. Analysts note the case alone could inject legal risk and delay the effort, regardless of outcome, as facts are tested going forward.
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