On July 10, 2026 (local time), Apple Inc. lodged a lawsuit with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that OpenAI had systematically pilfered its trade secrets to propel its AI hardware development. Apple asserted that OpenAI had illicitly acquired a substantial volume of confidential information by recruiting former Apple employees and enticing current staff to bring components, CAD drawings, supply chain details, and other materials from unreleased products to interviews. Apple highlighted that Tan Tang, OpenAI’s Chief Hardware Officer, and Chang Liu, a Senior System Electrical Engineer, were the main culprits. Both leveraged their senior roles and exploited system vulnerabilities during their time at Apple to pilfer and divulge core secrets, including engineering files and supplier information for unreleased products. Apple underscored that the trade secrets pertaining to its hardware products, which have entailed cumulative R&D investments of hundreds of billions of dollars, rank among the most valuable intangible assets in the United States, and OpenAI’s theft poses a significant threat to its hardware business. Apple petitioned the court to issue an injunction mandating OpenAI to halt the use of the stolen trade secrets, destroy pertinent materials, return all confidential copies, and pursue substantial compensation. In response, OpenAI stated that it has no interest in the trade secrets of other companies and remains committed to fostering innovative technologies.