Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft by Former Employees, Seeks to Derail Hardware Ambitions

Apple sues OpenAI in federal court, alleging former employees Tang Tan and Chang Liu systematically stole trade secrets, smuggled hardware, and exfiltrated confidential data to fuel OpenAI's hardware ambitions, demanding destruction of stolen information and damages that could derail OpenAI's push into smart glasses, wearable pendants, and camera-equipped earbuds.

• Apple files a lawsuit against OpenAI in US District Court, alleging that former Apple employees Tang Tan and Chang Liu systematically stole trade secrets, confidential product designs, and proprietary manufacturing information after being hired for OpenAI's hardware division.
• The suit claims Tan and Liu coached other departing Apple employees to smuggle physical Apple parts into OpenAI interviews and circumvent Apple's security systems to exfiltrate sensitive data, with OpenAI having hired over 400 former Apple employees in total.
• Apple is demanding OpenAI halt use of all stolen trade secrets, destroy illegally obtained information, return stolen hardware, and pay damages, with a potential jury trial outcome that could severely delay or derail OpenAI's hardware ambitions, including devices resembling smart glasses, wearable pendants, and camera-equipped earbuds.