Apple Sues OpenAI for Trade Secret Theft, Targets Hardware Business

Executive Briefing

• Apple filed a federal lawsuit accusing OpenAI and two former employees of systematically stealing hardware trade secrets.
• Names Tang Yew Tan, OpenAI's Chief Hardware Officer, alleging he directed job candidates to bring Apple parts to interviews.
• Includes io Products, Jony Ive's hardware startup acquired by OpenAI, as complicit in 'institutional-level misconduct.'
• Claims over 400 former Apple employees joined OpenAI, with interviews structured to extract confidential information.
• Apple stresses its existing ChatGPT integration deal with OpenAI is separate and unaffected by the lawsuit.
• OpenAI denied interest in rivals' trade secrets but did not respond to Apple's prior outreach, per the filing.