Apple sues OpenAI over hardware secrets
apple filed a trade secrets lawsuit against openai alleging ex-apple employees stole hardware info, threatening openai's $6.5b bet on physical ai devices.
apple accuses openai of systematic theft, claiming employees targeted proprietary hardware data to accelerate openai's own device roadmap. openai denies the allegations, but the case follows its contentious $6.5 billion purchase of io products, jony ive’s firm, signaling a collision course between the two giants. facing cash burn and executive turnover, openai cannot easily afford a protracted legal war against a litigious rival like apple. this dispute highlights the critical importance of hardware IP as the ai industry shifts from software to physical devices.