---
title: "Apple sues OpenAI, alleging theft of trade secrets 'at every level'"
description: "Apple has sued OpenAI, accusing the artificial-intelligence company of stealing its trade secrets and confidential information to build consumer hardware, in a lawsuit that names two former Apple employees and describes what it calls misconduct 'at every level.' OpenAI has not publicly responded, and the claims are allegations yet to be tested in court."
category: "Business"
category_url: https://herald.la/category/business
author: "Desmond Clarke"
published: 2026-07-10T22:54:00.000Z
updated: 2026-07-10T22:54:00.000Z
canonical: https://herald.la/article/apple-sues-openai-alleging-theft-of-trade-secrets-at-every-level
tags: ["apple", "openai", "lawsuit", "trade-secrets", "artificial-intelligence"]
---
# Apple sues OpenAI, alleging theft of trade secrets 'at every level'

Apple has sued OpenAI, accusing the artificial-intelligence company of stealing its trade secrets and confidential information to build consumer hardware, in a lawsuit that names two former Apple employees and describes what it calls misconduct 'at every level.' OpenAI has not publicly responded, and the claims are allegations yet to be tested in court.

Two companies that were recently partners are now adversaries in court. Apple has sued OpenAI, accusing the maker of ChatGPT of a systematic effort to steal its secrets.

## The claims

In a complaint filed in federal court in Northern California, Apple alleges that OpenAI, "at every level, from members of its Technical Staff to its Chief Hardware Officer," has been taking Apple's trade secrets and confidential information, [CNBC reported](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/10/apple-openai-lawsuit-trade-secrets.html). Apple says the alleged scheme targeted product designs, engineering details and other proprietary information as OpenAI pushes into building its own devices. These are allegations in a lawsuit; they have not been proven, and a court has not ruled on them.

## The people named

The suit names two former Apple employees. One is Tang Tan, a long-serving Apple product-design executive who is now a hardware leader at OpenAI; Apple alleges he encouraged Apple employees interviewing at OpenAI to bring physical parts and information with them, [The Hill reported](https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5963117-apple-sues-openai-trade-secrets/). The other is a former Apple engineer whom Apple accuses of downloading confidential files about unreleased hardware and failing to return a company laptop after leaving. Apple says it wrote to OpenAI earlier this year raising concerns and received no response.

## From partners to rivals

The lawsuit is a striking turn for two companies whose relationship began as a partnership. Apple and OpenAI teamed up to integrate ChatGPT into Siri, a feature that rolled out on Apple devices, [CNBC reported](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/10/apple-openai-lawsuit-trade-secrets.html). But the ground has shifted as OpenAI has moved aggressively into hardware, hiring away talent and building a device business, even as Apple has worked to broaden the AI options available on its own products.

## Why it matters

Beyond the specific accusations, the case reflects the ferocious competition, and the scramble for talent, now defining the AI industry. Trade-secret fights often turn on where legitimate hiring ends and improper poaching begins, and this one pits the world's most valuable hardware company against the most prominent name in AI, at a moment when OpenAI is reportedly eyeing a major stock offering. OpenAI has not issued a public statement on the suit. How the courts sort out Apple's claims could shape the rules of engagement as tech's biggest players race to build the next generation of AI devices.