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Apple Sues OpenAI, Alleging Coordinated Theft of Trade Secrets for AI Hardware Device

July 11, 2026 at 11:34 EDT

Policy & Regulation
Security
AI Agents

Apple has filed suit against OpenAI in federal court, accusing the ChatGPT maker of orchestrating a months-long effort to steal trade secrets to jump-start its own AI hardware device. The complaint, lodged July 10 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California in San Jose, names two former Apple employees now at OpenAI—Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan and engineer Chang Liu—and alleges misconduct reaching "every level" of the company, from technical staff to its most senior hardware executive. (1)

July 10 · Northern District of California

Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade-Secret Theft

Apple accuses the ChatGPT maker of a months-long effort to steal confidential hardware secrets to jump-start its own AI device — naming two former Apple employees now at OpenAI.

Former Apple employees named — a hardware chief and an engineer

$6.5B

OpenAI's 2026 acquisition of io Products, linked to Jony Ive

~25 yr

Named executive's tenure at Apple, overseeing iPhone & Watch design

What Apple alleges

Prototypes at interviews

Recruits allegedly instructed to bring unreleased parts and prototypes to job interviews.

Security playbook shared

Internal "Need to Know" docs and an exit-security playbook allegedly circulated to coach new hires.

Retained laptop

An engineer allegedly kept an Apple laptop and accessed dozens of confidential hardware files.

Apple seeks

An injunction to halt the alleged misuse, plus monetary damages — arguing OpenAI's device push depends on improperly obtained secrets.

OpenAI responds

The company says it has "no interest in other companies' trade secrets" and pushes back on the accusations.

Partners and rivals at once

ChatGPT is integrated into Apple's devices — even as OpenAI moves aggressively into hardware of its own. The case may test whether courts see OpenAI's device push as independently built or, as Apple alleges, dependent on stolen secrets — with implications for a broader wave of talent and IP disputes.

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