The OpenAI Apple trade secrets lawsuit escalates as OpenAI asks a federal court to dismiss allegations over poached hardware talent.
OpenAI requested that a U.S. judge dismiss Apple’s lawsuit accusing the ChatGPT creator and two former Apple employees of trade-secret theft to accelerate its hardware ambitions. In its motion filed Wednesday, OpenAI argued it is building something “entirely new” and has no interest in, or need for, Apple’s confidential information.
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding OpenAI’s dismissal motion. In its July complaint, Apple alleged that OpenAI systematically exploited its trade secrets using former employees, aggressive hiring tactics, and supplier networks to fast-track its own consumer hardware development.
OpenAI argued in its filing that Apple failed to clearly define the specific trade secrets it claims were stolen, relying instead on vague, generalized product categories. The company asserted that the iPhone maker failed to prove it owned legally protectable trade secrets or to plausibly demonstrate any actual misappropriation by the defendants.
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“Apple should not be permitted to use a baseless and pretextual lawsuit to make up for its shortcomings in the market for talent and retaining its employees, and its failures to integrate AI into its products,” OpenAI’s motion stated.
The legal clash comes despite an existing partnership between the two companies that integrates ChatGPT into Siri and lets iPhone users purchase ChatGPT subscriptions directly from their iOS settings.
