OpenAI rebuts Apple’s trade secrets lawsuit as baseless

OpenAI has fired back at Apple’s trade secrets lawsuit with the corporate equivalent of “calm down.” In a blog post published on August 3, 2026, OpenAI called Apple’s allegations “careless, aggressive and oddly personal,” rejecting claims that it systematically stole proprietary technology from one of the world’s most valuable companies. What Apple is alleging Apple filed its lawsuit on July 10, 2026, in California, claiming OpenAI conspired with former Apple employees to misappropriate trade secrets related to unreleased technologies. The suit centers on two individuals in particular: Tang Yew Tan, who Apple says served as its Chief Hardware Officer for over 24 years before joining OpenAI, and Chang Liu, whose last day at Apple was January 22, 2026. The core of Apple’s argument is that the theft wasn’t incidental. It was systematic, spanning multiple levels within OpenAI. Apple is seeking a preliminary injunction, essentially asking a court to intervene before the case even goes to trial. OpenAI’s point-by-point rebuttal OpenAI’s response made several key assertions. First, OpenAI says it possesses no Apple trade secrets, explicitly denying any reliance on Apple’s proprietary tech...