苹果公司于2026年7月对OpenAI提起诉讼，指控OpenAI系统性地窃取其商业机密。诉讼的核心人物是前苹果高管谭唐（Tang Tan），他在苹果工作25年后离职加入OpenAI担任首席硬体长，并被指控利用面试环节向苹果在职员工套取机密产品资讯，甚至要求应聘者将未发布的硬体原型带到OpenAI办公室展示。
诉讼中详述了前iPhone工程师刘昌（Chang Liu）的案例。刘昌离开苹果时带走了一台公司配发的MacBook，并发现了一个软体漏洞，使他在已入职OpenAI后仍能存取苹果内部档案伺服器，下载了简报、硬体设计、制造细节和测试流程等机密资料。他的前同事彭阿丽莎（Alyssa Peng）也协助获取更多资讯，随后自己也跳槽至OpenAI的硬体部门，加入了超过400名从苹果离职的员工行列。
这场诉讼反映了苹果与OpenAI之间日益加剧的竞争关系。OpenAI已投入数十亿美元发展硬体业务，并收购了由前苹果设计主管乔尼·艾夫（Jony Ive）与谭唐共同创立的io Products公司，收购价达65亿美元。两家公司都瞄准了新兴的AI装置市场，苹果正开发智慧家居设备、配备摄影镜头的AirPods和智慧眼镜，而OpenAI则在研发一款AI驱动的智慧型手机替代品。苹果声称曾于2月联系OpenAI试图解决争端，但对方从未回应。
Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in July 2026, alleging a systematic campaign to steal its trade secrets. Central to the complaint is Tang Tan, a 25-year Apple veteran who became OpenAI's chief hardware officer. Apple claims Tan used job interviews as intelligence-gathering sessions, soliciting confidential product details from Apple employees and even asking candidates to bring unreleased hardware prototypes to so-called show-and-tell meetings at OpenAI's offices. OpenAI responded by stating it has no interest in other companies' trade secrets.
A key episode involves former iPhone engineer Chang Liu, who allegedly left Apple with an unreturned company MacBook and exploited a software bug to retain access to Apple's internal file servers after joining OpenAI. He reportedly downloaded presentations, hardware designs, manufacturing details, and testing procedures. His former colleague Alyssa Peng assisted in obtaining additional information before herself departing for OpenAI's hardware division, joining over 400 ex-Apple employees attracted by higher salaries and stock options.
The lawsuit highlights the deepening rivalry between Apple and OpenAI as both compete for the emerging AI device market. OpenAI acquired io Products, co-founded by Tan and former Apple design chief Jony Ive, for $6.5 billion, and has invested billions in its hardware ambitions despite having little beyond early prototypes. Apple is developing smart home devices, camera-equipped AirPods, and smart glasses, while OpenAI is working on an AI-powered smartphone replacement. The case also exposes internal tensions, particularly the strained relationship between Tan and John Ternus, Apple's incoming CEO, whose hardware engineering division lost the most recruits to OpenAI.