Apple has taken its rival OpenAI to court, accusing the AI company of systematically stealing trade secrets, according to CNBC and Forbes.
At the center of the case is an allegation, reported by TechCrunch, that a former Apple employee exploited a "rare" bug to download confidential files from Apple's network long after he had left the company for OpenAI. SDxCentral similarly reports Apple's claim that OpenAI staff exploited a network vulnerability to siphon trade secrets. Apple declined to comment on the alleged security breach, TechCrunch says.
Coverage of the complaint describes a striking set of claims. According to MSN, the filing includes allegations ranging from employees joking about unauthorized access to Apple's systems to claims that job candidates were asked to bring Apple materials with them. Apple also names iPhone designer Jony Ive and his firm io, per Creative Bloq.
The stakes go beyond secrets. Multiple outlets — including Bloomberg, Gizmodo and MacDailyNews — frame the suit as a threat to OpenAI's ambition to build a hardware device that could rival the iPhone. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that a source says OpenAI still believes it is on track to unveil its first device in 2026 and release it in 2027, though the lawsuit may complicate hiring and supply chains.
The dispute marks a sharp turn for two former partners: MSN notes that roughly two years ago Apple gave OpenAI direct access to Siri and iOS. TD Cowen's Gallant told CNBC that Apple has built a "very strong case" for a preliminary injunction. Crypto Briefing reports the fight could affect OpenAI's valuation and IPO timeline, and Quartz notes Elon Musk and Sam Altman traded insults on X after the filing.
Why it matters: the outcome could reshape who gets to build the next dominant consumer device — and how freely talent and ideas move between tech giants and their AI challengers.