OpenAI is pushing back against Apple’s trade secret lawsuit, saying it is not aware of evidence that supports the iPhone maker’s complaint, as the dispute adds new tension to the companies’ already fragile AI partnership.
OpenAI Says Apple’s Complaint Lacks Merit
OpenAI’s latest statement is its most direct response to the lawsuit so far.
TechCrunch shared that OpenAI said, “While we take these allegations seriously, we’re not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit”.
The Hill also reported that OpenAI rejected Apple’s trade secret allegations and said it has no interest in other companies’ confidential information.
OpenAI framed the issue as one of fair competition and worker mobility. TechCrunch highlighted that the company shared it believes in “fair competition” and in allowing people “the freedom to work wherever they choose”.
Apple Claims Former Employees Helped OpenAI’s Hardware Push
Apple’s lawsuit paints a different picture.
MSN reported that Apple sued OpenAI over alleged trade secret theft tied to the ChatGPT maker’s push into AI hardware.
TechCrunch reported that Apple’s 41-page complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges a coordinated effort involving former Apple employees and OpenAI leadership.
The lawsuit names former Apple executive Tang Tan as a central figure. Tan, now OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, worked at Apple for 24 years and held senior roles including vice president of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch.
Partnership Turns Into Rivalry
The lawsuit adds strain to a relationship that had previously looked cooperative. Apple and OpenAI had already been partners through Apple’s integration of ChatGPT into its devices. The dispute now places the two companies on opposing sides of a high-stakes fight over AI, intellectual property and future hardware.
Apple’s case still has to be tested in court, and OpenAI is now publicly denying that the complaint has a valid basis. But the fight already shows how quickly AI partnerships can turn into competitive threats. Apple is defending the hardware expertise behind its most important products, while OpenAI is trying to prove it can build the next major AI device without relying on another company’s secrets.
