Checking your Browser…

Skip to content

Open AI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman speaks during the Kakao media day in Seoul.Image Credits: Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket / Getty Images

AI

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on LinkedInShare on RedditShare over EmailCopy Share Link

OpenAI pushes back on Apple trade secret lawsuit

Kirsten Korosec

3:07 PM PDT · July 14, 2026

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on LinkedInShare on RedditShare over EmailCopy Share Link

OpenAI pushed back Tuesday against allegations made by Apple in a trade secret lawsuit, suggesting the complaint lacks merit.

“While we take these allegations seriously, we’re not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit,” OpenAI said in a statement, first shared by Bloomberg reporter Ed Ludlow on X. “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 statement comes several days after Apple filed a lawsuit against the AI lab, alleging that OpenAI employees, who previously worked at the iPhone maker, engaged in a coordinated effort to obtain confidential information and intellectual property. The 41-page complaint, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, contains a string of allegations against OpenAI leadership, including Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan. Before joining OpenAI, Tan was a veteran at Apple, where he worked for 24 years and held top positions, including vice president of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch.

This is the first time OpenAI commented on the case itself. In its initial statement hours after Apple filed its lawsuit, it proclaimed a lack of interest in technology developed by other companies, telling TechCrunch: “We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”

Apple claims in its lawsuit that its internal investigation uncovered evidence that OpenAI and its partners used the company’s confidential information as it develops its own hardware product.

Reports, along with OpenAI’s recent acquisition of Jony Ive’s startup io, suggest the company is working on a device that could directly compete with Apple’s business. Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that OpenAI is working on a mobile, screen-free smart speaker, described by people familiar with the plans as a “humanlike AI companion” designed to live in the home.

The device reportedly has no screen, includes moving mechanical elements, and is being built with input from several former Apple engineers who worked on the iPhone and Mac.

TechCrunch has reached out to OpenAI for further comment and will update this article when the company responds.

Topics

AI, Apple, OpenAI

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on LinkedInShare on RedditShare over EmailCopy Share Link

Kirsten Korosec

Kirsten Korosec

Transportation Editor

Kirsten Korosec on TwitterKirsten Korosec on FacebookKirsten Korosec on Linkedin

Kirsten Korosec is a reporter and editor who has covered the future of transportation from EVs and autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility and in-car tech for more than a decade. She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. She is also co-founder and co-host of the podcast, “The Autonocast.” She previously wrote for Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review and CBS Interactive.

You can contact or verify outreach from Kirsten by emailing kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at kkorosec.07 on Signal.

View Bio

Event Logo

November 4

Boston

Last chance to save up to $190 on TechCrunch Founder Summit. Join 1,000+ founders and VCs at all stages for real-world scaling insights and connections that move the needle.

Savings end June 26, 11:59 p.m. PT.

REGISTER NOW

Most Popular

Loading the next article

Error loading the next article

Some areas of this page may shift around if you resize the browser window. Be sure to check heading and document order.

Read Original at TechCrunch →