Apple files a lawsuit accusing OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, of stealing trade secrets

Several years ago, Apple sought the help of OpenAI, as it was lagging behind in the AI race driven by the arrival of ChatGPT. Both companies partnered in 2024 to use ChatGPT as an AI-powered “answer engine” on the iPhone, when the integrated Siri technology failed to meet user needs. More recently, this collaboration has turned into a rivalry.

As part of its expansion efforts, OpenAI hired former Apple designer Jony Ive to oversee a project to create an artificial intelligence device that, according to many analysts, could eventually compete with Apple products.

Last year, OpenAI announced that it was working on a secret hardware collaboration with Ive to pioneer a new way of communicating with artificial intelligence. As part of this collaboration, OpenAI acquired io Products, a product and engineering company co-founded by Ive, Tan, and two other people, in a deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion.

This led the little-known tech startup iyO Inc. to sue Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for trademark infringement due to the similarity of the names and previous interactions between both companies. The startup also sued one of its former employees for allegedly leaking a confidential drawing of an unreleased iyO product, and subsequently added charges of trade secret theft against Tan to the lawsuit.

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Apple’s lawsuit also includes io Products as a defendant. Attorneys who previously represented the firm and Tan did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Apple’s lawsuit comes at a time when OpenAI is considering an IPO on Wall Street and is facing increased competition from rivals such as Anthropic and Google.

OpenAI scaled back some of its commercial initiatives earlier this year to focus on its core product, ChatGPT, but has continued working on a device, the company’s chief financial officer told the Associated Press this spring.

“We have consumer devices coming later this year,” Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar told the AP in April.