Apple sues OpenAI over alleged trade‑secret theft by ex‑Apple staff

Apple filed a trade‑secret lawsuit on July 10, 2026 accusing OpenAI, io Products and two former Apple executives of stealing more than 1,000 pages of proprietary hardware information to accelerate OpenAI’s consumer‑device program【1】. The claim threatens OpenAI’s nascent hardware ambitions and could reshape talent‑poaching practices across the AI‑chip sector.

Allegations and alleged scope

Apple’s complaint details a “pattern of theft” that began months before Liu and Tan left Apple. Liu is said to have kept an Apple‑issued laptop, used it to access the company’s private network, and downloaded confidential presentations, spreadsheets and PDFs—totaling over 1,000 pages【2】. The suit also alleges Liu coached an active Apple employee, Alyssa Peng, on copying files without triggering security alerts.

Tang Tan, a former vice‑president for product design, is accused of emailing himself supplier information, requesting interview candidates bring Apple CAD files and parts, and instructing hires on how to conceal their departure from Apple. Apple claims Tan leveraged this insider knowledge to help OpenAI approach Apple’s supply chain partners, including Foxconn, Luxshare and Goertek【2】.

OpenAI’s response, issued via its Director of Strategic Communications on X, denies any interest in other companies’ trade secrets and reiterates its focus on building “innovative technology that empowers people everywhere”【1】.

Context within the AI‑hardware race

The lawsuit arrives amid OpenAI’s push to develop consumer‑grade hardware, a move that could allow it to bundle AI models with proprietary devices. Apple argues that such misappropriation would let OpenAI “bypass years of independent research and development, skip the capital expenditure required to build genuine expertise, and bring products to market faster and at lower cost”【2】.

This is not OpenAI’s first entanglement with Apple‑related trade‑secret claims. The hardware startup iyO sued OpenAI and io Products shortly after their partnership was announced, later amending its complaint in March 2026 to allege trade‑secret theft involving the same former Apple staff【1】. The recurrence suggests a broader pattern of talent‑driven IP disputes as AI firms seek to accelerate hardware capabilities.

What to watch

• Discovery timeline – Court filings may reveal the extent of the alleged data transfer and whether other OpenAI projects rely on the stolen material.
• OpenAI hiring trends – Monitoring future hires from Apple’s hardware teams could indicate whether the company continues to source talent with proprietary knowledge.
• Potential settlement or injunction – An early resolution could limit OpenAI’s ability to use any Apple‑derived designs in upcoming devices.

The case underscores how AI firms are increasingly targeting established hardware expertise to shortcut product development. Whether the lawsuit curtails OpenAI’s hardware rollout or prompts stricter talent‑poaching safeguards remains to be seen.