Apple sues OpenAI, its employees claiming theft of trade secrets

Apple has filed a national lawsuit alleging that OpenAI improperly obtained confidential information through the hiring of former Apple staff. The suit, submitted on Friday, names OpenAI, two of its employees, and the product startup io Products, which OpenAI acquired last year. Apple contends that the defendants engaged in “a form of theft” of its proprietary product development work and related activities. According to the complaint, at least two longtime Apple employees who left to join OpenAI allegedly participated by emailing themselves internal Apple data. Drew Pusateri, an OpenAI spokesperson, told the BBC, “We person nary involvement successful different companies' commercialized secrets.” Pusateri added that the firm, which is presently reviewing Apple’s filing, is “focused connected gathering innovative exertion that empowers radical everywhere.” An Apple spokesperson characterized the litigation as the result of “significant evidence.” The filing describes a notable shift in the relationship between Apple and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Tim Cook, Apple’s outgoing CEO, had previously integrated ChatGPT into Apple devices while seeking to expand AI offerings. This year, Apple redirected many of its AI functions to run on Google’s Gemini models and tools. When Cook announced his departure in April, Sam Altman, co‑founder and CEO of OpenAI, publicly praised him as “a legend,” adding he was “very thankful for everything he has done.” Apple now asserts that OpenAI is pursuing a “strategy to extract Apple's confidential information.” The lawsuit also targets io Products, founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, and two individual former employees: Chang Liu, a senior electrical engineer who spent eight years at Apple, and Tang Yew Tan, a vice president of design for iPhone and Apple Watch who worked