tech
Apple sues OpenAI for trade secret theft
Apple has lost significant talent to OpenAI as the frontier lab prepares to unveil its first hardware device.
TL;DR
- Apple is suing OpenAI for trade secret theft, alleging systematic solicitation and theft of confidential information from ex-employees.
- The lawsuit claims a former Apple engineer, Chang Liu, exploited a bug to access confidential files after leaving Apple.
- Tang Tan, OpenAI's chief hardware officer and former Apple veteran, is accused of using Apple's internal codenames and soliciting sensitive information from potential hires.
- Apple alleges OpenAI approached its trusted partners with confidential Apple information to develop its hardware device.
- Over 400 former Apple employees reportedly work for OpenAI.
- Apple seeks to stop the possession, use, or disclosure of its trade secrets, and demands damages.
- Jony Ive, who collaborates with OpenAI on hardware, was not officially named in the suit.