OpenAI dismisses Apple trade secret lawsuit as lacking merit

OpenAI has formally disputed a trade secret lawsuit filed by Apple, stating that the legal complaint lacks merit. The artificial intelligence lab issued a statement on Tuesday, first shared by Bloomberg reporter Ed Ludlow, which explicitly rejected the allegations made by the technology giant.

"While we take these allegations seriously, we’re not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit," OpenAI said in the statement. The company emphasised its commitment to fair competition and the freedom for employees to work wherever they choose, reiterating its focus on building innovative technology.

The legal dispute centres on a 41-page complaint filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Apple alleges that OpenAI employees, including former Apple veterans, coordinated to obtain confidential information and intellectual property. The complaint specifically names OpenAI’s Chief Hardware Officer, Tang Tan, who spent 24 years at Apple, holding senior roles such as vice president of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Apple claims its internal investigation uncovered evidence that OpenAI and its partners used the company’s confidential information while developing its own hardware products. This legal tension coincides with reports that OpenAI is working on a mobile, screen-free smart speaker, a move potentially linked to its recent acquisition of Jony Ive’s design firm, io Products, for nearly $6.5 billion.

This marks the first time OpenAI has commented directly on the specifics of the case. In its initial response hours after the lawsuit was filed, the company issued a general denial, stating it had no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. The target for launching its first major hardware device is reportedly 2027, with the device expected to facilitate voice interaction through OpenAI’s GPT-Live model.