Apple sues OpenAI over alleged theft tied to ChatGPT hardware
What's new: Apple named former iPhone designer Tang Tan and engineer Chang Liu, alleging confidential hardware files and product parts were taken.
Apple sued OpenAI in California federal court on Friday, accusing the ChatGPT maker of building its hardware effort with misappropriated Apple trade secrets. The complaint names OpenAI chief hardware officer Tang Tan, a former Apple product designer, and ex-Apple engineer Chang Liu as defendants. Apple alleges OpenAI recruited employees to share confidential information, that Liu downloaded sensitive hardware files on an Apple-issued device he kept after leaving, and that Tan urged candidates still at Apple to bring actual parts to interviews. OpenAI said it was reviewing the filing and denied any interest in rivals' trade secrets. The case marks a sharp break in ties between two companies that had also been partners on AI features.