OpenAI Rejects Merit of Apple's Trade Secret Lawsuit

OpenAI on Tuesday stated it is unaware of evidence supporting the merits of a trade secret lawsuit filed by Apple. “While we take these allegations seriously, we’re not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit,” the company said in a statement first shared by Bloomberg reporter Ed Ludlow on X.

It added that it believes in fair competition and the freedom of people to work wherever they choose.

Apple filed the 41-page complaint Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The suit alleges that former Apple employees now at OpenAI engaged in a coordinated effort to obtain confidential information and intellectual property.

It names OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan, who worked at Apple for 24 years in roles including vice president of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch. This marks the first time OpenAI has commented directly on the case. Hours after the filing, the company had said it has no interest in other companies’ trade secrets.

TechCrunch reported that Apple’s lawsuit claims an internal investigation found evidence OpenAI used the company’s confidential information while developing its own hardware product. ” The device reportedly includes moving mechanical elements and draws input from several former Apple engineers who worked on the iPhone and Mac.