Apple has sued OpenAI in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging trade secret theft related to OpenAI’s hardware efforts.

The complaint names OpenAI, io Products, former Apple executive Tang Tan, and engineer Chang Liu as defendants.

Apple alleged that Tan solicited confidential information from Apple job candidates. The company also claimed Liu downloaded more than 1,000 pages of confidential engineering files before joining OpenAI in January.

Apple said it raised the issue with OpenAI in February but did not receive a response. The company is seeking injunctive relief and damages.

The lawsuit adds pressure to the companies’ growing split as OpenAI expands its device efforts with Jony Ive, following its US$6.5 billion acquisition of io Products.

Apple’s Siri and Apple Intelligence partnership with OpenAI remains active, and Apple’s complaint said that agreement is not at issue in the case.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg