Apple sues OpenAI and accuses company of stealing trade secrets

The process increases tension between the two companies, which had announced a partnership in 2024 to integrate ChatGPT into Apple products. Since then, the relationship between the companies has reportedly deteriorated.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in San José, California. In the document, Apple states that OpenAI adopted a strategy to extract the company's confidential data.

In a statement, an OpenAI spokesperson stated that the company “has no interest in confidential information from other companies” and stated that the accusations are still being analyzed.

In addition to OpenAI, the lawsuit names two former Apple executives. One of them is Tang Tan, co-founder of startup io Products alongside Jony Ive, former head of design at the iPhone maker.

io Products was purchased by OpenAI in May 2025 for $6.5 billion. The acquisition is part of the expansion strategy of the creator of ChatGPT, which intends to launch a line of devices focused on artificial intelligence by 2027.

According to Apple, Tang Tan would have taken internal documents when leaving the company in 2024. Currently responsible for the development of physical products at OpenAI, he would also be accused of trying to obtain additional information during selection processes with Apple employees interested in working at the AI company.

Another former employee mentioned is Chang Liu. Apple claims that he kept corporate devices after leaving the company in 2026 and continued to access the company's internal network.

In the process, Apple acknowledges that more than 400 former company employees currently work at OpenAI and that, therefore, some of them may have knowledge of protected information.

"It is not surprising that some have access to confidential data. But OpenAI decided to exploit this information", maintains the company.

The iPhone maker claims that the facts identified so far represent only “the tip of the iceberg” and says it has a limited view of what happens within OpenAI.

For Apple, the alleged practices would be linked to the AI company's plans to enter the physical devices market, a segment in which it did not yet have consolidated experience.

The company is asking the court to prevent OpenAI from using confidential information obtained from current or former employees. It also requests compensation for damages, but does not specify the amount.

The process comes at a strategic moment for OpenAI, which is preparing for a possible IPO. Valued at around US$852 billion, the company is betting on the development of electronic products as one of its main growth fronts.

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