The relationship between Apple and OpenAI, which was once a partnership in the field of artificial intelligence, has turned into an open legal confrontation after the American company filed a lawsuit accusing ChatGPT developer of stealing its trade secrets. This move could affect the race to develop AI devices and reshape the competition among the world's largest technology companies.

Apple filed a lawsuit in a federal court in California, accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets during its efforts to develop a device dedicated to ChatGPT technologies. The company believes that OpenAI encouraged former Apple employees to transfer confidential information related to the development of its products and provided them with guidance on how to avoid raising suspicions while transitioning to work for it.

Apple confirmed in the lawsuit that the case involves former employees stealing trade secrets for OpenAI, demanding that the court stop what it described as illegal practices.

The lawsuit included two former Apple employees: Tang Tang, who participated in the design of iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPod devices and currently holds the position of Chief Hardware Officer at OpenAI; and Chang Liu, a former electrical engineer who Apple says was working on some of its most secret projects before joining OpenAI earlier this year.

OpenAI responded by stating that it is still reviewing the details of the lawsuit but emphasized through its spokesperson, Drew Bosatelli, that it does not seek trade secrets from other companies and focuses on developing innovative technologies for users.

Apple believes that OpenAI's project to develop an AI-based device was partly based on information obtained illegally, stating that the company’s hardware activities are "built on a fragile foundation" due to reliance on stolen trade secrets.

The lawsuit states that Apple began an internal investigation after suspecting the leak of confidential information and discovered, according to its account, a recurring pattern of employees moving to OpenAI while taking with them internal data and files.

Apple accuses employee Chang Liu of accessing and downloading secret files related to hardware development onto a company device that he kept after leaving. It also accuses Tang Tan of directing candidates who were still working at Apple to bring "actual parts" from the company's products to job interviews with OpenAI.

Apple added that it contacted OpenAI last February to raise these concerns early in the investigation, but did not receive a response from the company, according to the lawsuit.

This crisis comes after years of cooperation between the two companies. In 2024, Apple hired OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into iPhones as a motor for answering user queries when Siri cannot provide sufficient answers.

However, the relationship gradually turned towards competition, especially after OpenAI recruited the renowned designer Jony Ive, who played a pivotal role in designing some of Apple's most famous devices, to oversee the development of a new AI-based device project. Analysts believe this project could potentially compete with Apple’s products in the future.

Last year, OpenAI acquired io Products, founded by Johnny Ai and Tang Tan among others, in a deal valued at around $6.5 billion, with the aim of developing a new generation of AI-based devices.

The lawsuit indicated that io Products is also listed as one of the defendants, while OpenAI faces other lawsuits related to the same project, including a case filed by iyO for trademark infringement and leaking confidential information.

The lawsuit comes at a sensitive time for OpenAI, which is considering an initial public offering on the US stock market, amid rising competition with companies such as Anthropic and Google.

Although some activities have been scaled back this year to focus on ChatGPT, the company's CFO, Sarah Fryer, confirmed that OpenAI is still moving forward with its project to develop a new consumer device, which is expected to be launched by the end of the year.