Apple sues ex-employee for stealing trade secrets, accuses OpenAI of poaching and copying iPhone development system

Apple has filed a lawsuit against former hardware engineer Chang Liu, accusing him of taking company equipment and using a software bug to access Apple's internal network after leaving to join OpenAI. He allegedly shared the bug with a colleague who helped him steal confidential information.

The lawsuit highlights growing tension between Apple and OpenAI. The two companies have turned from partners into rivals in the AI hardware market. The key figure is former Apple executive Tang Tan, who led iPhone and Apple Watch design and later became OpenAI's chief hardware officer. Apple claims OpenAI is copying the iPhone development system through poaching, with over 400 employees having left Apple.

Apple says it tried to resolve the issue privately but got no response. OpenAI has invested billions in hardware and plans to create a device that could replace smartphones. Apple believes OpenAI's hardware business is built on stolen trade secrets.