Apple Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI Accusing It of Stealing Trade Secrets, Involving Former Executive and Core AI Hardware Project
On July 10, 2026, Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing it of stealing trade secrets and breaching contracts. The complaint states that Don Teng, former vice president of design at Apple and now Chief Hardware Officer at OpenAI, directed systematic espionage, misused Apple's confidential project codes during recruitment, and induced job candidates to leak information. This lawsuit marks the intensification of the AI competition between two major technology giants.
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