OpenAI · Apple · Axios · Axios
Apple sues OpenAI for trade secret theft
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Apple is suing OpenAI for trade secret theft, alleging the AI giant deliberately and systematically solicited and stole confidential information from the iPhone-maker's current and former employees.
Key facts
- The intrigue: Jony Ive, Apple's former chief design officer who began collaborating with OpenAI in 2023, was not officially named in the suit
- Apple says over 400 former employees are now employed by OpenAI
- Tang Tan, also mentioned in the complaint, is an Apple veteran who worked on iPhone and Apple Watch and now serves as OpenAI's chief hardware officer
- Apple also accuses OpenAI of approaching Apples trusted partners with confidential Apple information as the AI firm developed its hardware device
Summary
Apple has lost significant talent to OpenAI as the frontier lab prepares to unveil its first hardware device this year. What they're saying: "Recently, significant evidence has emerged suggesting individuals employed by OpenAI wrongfully took Apple's secret and confidential information regarding our unreleased technologies, processes, and products," Apple said in a statement. "The team have no interest in other companies' trade secrets. The lawsuit alleges that Chang Liu, a former senior electrical engineer at Apple kept a work-issued Apple laptop and discovered a bug that allowed him to access Apple's cloud file storage after leaving and while employed by OpenAI.