Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft

Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in July 2026, accusing the company of stealing trade secrets related to hardware development. The complaint, reported by TechStartups citing The Verge, alleges that OpenAI obtained confidential information about Apple's hardware projects through improper means.

The lawsuit does not specify which hardware projects are at issue, but it comes as both companies are competing for AI engineering talent and racing to build next-generation devices with on-device AI capabilities. Apple has been developing its own AI chips and integrating machine learning features into its iPhone, Mac, and iPad product lines.

OpenAI has not publicly responded to the allegations. The company is already facing legal pressure from the New York Times and other publishers over copyright claims related to training data. A separate court motion filed by publishers in July seeks sanctions against OpenAI for allegedly withholding evidence in that case.

The Apple lawsuit reflects broader tensions in the AI industry over intellectual property. As companies pour billions into AI research, disputes over who owns key ideas, code, and hardware designs are becoming more common. Courts are still working out how existing trade secret and copyright law applies to AI development.

Apple is also dealing with regulatory headwinds in Europe. The company lost a final appeal against a 4.1 billion euro EU antitrust fine related to Android, and faces a separate challenge under the Digital Markets Act. The European cases have required Apple to make changes to how it operates its App Store and distributes software in the region.

Despite the legal battles, Apple continues to invest heavily in AI. The company is accelerating development of its next-generation chips and has integrated AI features into its operating systems under the Apple Intelligence brand. Analysts expect Apple to announce new AI-powered hardware at its fall product event.