July 15 – OpenAI has dismissed allegations made by Apple in a newly filed trade secret lawsuit, saying it is unaware of any evidence supporting the claims and remains committed to fair competition.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the artificial intelligence company said it takes the allegations seriously but does not believe the complaint has merit.
“While we take these allegations seriously, we’re not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit,” OpenAI said. “We believe in fair competition and allowing people the freedom to work wherever they choose, and we’re focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”
The response follows a lawsuit filed by Apple last week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. In its 41-page complaint, Apple alleges that former employees who joined OpenAI participated in a coordinated effort to obtain confidential company information and trade secrets.
Among those named in the lawsuit is Tang Tan, OpenAI’s Chief Hardware Officer. Tan spent 24 years at Apple, where he played a key role in the development of products including the iPhone and Apple Watch before joining OpenAI.
According to Apple, an internal investigation uncovered evidence suggesting that confidential information may have been used by OpenAI and its partners as the company expands into AI-powered hardware.
The legal dispute comes as OpenAI increases its focus on consumer devices. Earlier this year, the company acquired former Apple design chief Jony Ive’s startup, io, fueling speculation that it is developing new AI hardware capable of competing directly with Apple’s product lineup.
Recent reports have also suggested that OpenAI is working on a screen-free AI-powered smart speaker, further signaling its ambitions in the consumer hardware market.
OpenAI had previously denied any interest in using competitors’ proprietary technology, stating shortly after the lawsuit was filed that it has “no interest in other companies’ trade secrets” and remains focused on developing its own innovations.
The case is expected to draw significant attention as it unfolds, highlighting the increasingly intense competition between major technology companies racing to establish leadership in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence hardware market.
