Apple sues OpenAI, its employees claiming theft of trade secrets

Apple sues OpenAI, its employees claiming theft of trade secretsImage source, ReutersImage caption, Apple CEO Tim cook is leaving the role later this year.ByKali HaysTechnology reporterPublished10 July 2026Apple has accused OpenAI of gaining access to valuable inside information through the hiring of its former employees.In a federal lawsuit filed on Friday, Apple sued the artificial intelligence (AI) company, two of its employees, as well as io Products, claiming it has engaged in "a pattern of theft" of Apple's confidential product development and related work.At least two long-time Apple workers who left the company to join OpenAI allegedly took part in this pattern by, in part, emailing themselves internal Apple information.Drew Pusateri, a spokesman for OpenAI, told the BBC: "We have no interest in other companies' trade secrets."Pusateri added that the company, which is currently reviewing Apple's complaint, is "focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere."An Apple spokesman told the BBC the lawsuit is the result of "significant evidence."It represents a major shift in relations between Apple and OpenAI, creator of the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT.Tim Cook, Apple's outgoing CEO, had added ChatGPT into Apple devices as the company was looking to offer more AI features.This year, Apple shifted more of its AI features to run on Google's Gemini model and tools.Yet, when Cook revealed in April that he was stepping down, Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, publicly praised him as "a legend", adding he was "very thankful for everything he has done".Now, Apple is accusing OpenAI of undertaking a "strategy to extract Apple's confidential information".Along with OpenAI, Apple is suing io Products, the design startup founded by Jony Ive, a long-time Apple executive. OpenAI acquired the company last year.It is also suing Chang Liu, a senior...