This isn’t a generic IP dispute.

Apple’s hardware chief at OpenAI is Tang Tan. Former Apple VP. 24 years at the company. He now runs OpenAI’s device ambitions.

Apple alleges he was coaching Apple employees interviewing at OpenAI to bring actual hardware parts – batteries, logic boards, SIPs – to their interviews for “show and tell” sessions.

He also reportedly circulated an internal Apple offboarding document marked “Need to Know” to incoming OpenAI hires, teaching them how to leave Apple without triggering security checks.

Then there’s Chang Liu. Former Apple electrical engineer. He kept his Apple-issued laptop after joining OpenAI. Found a bug that still gave him access to Apple’s cloud storage. His reaction: “LOL, I found out I can access the \[network storage\], so funny.” He then downloaded dozens of confidential files, many labeled as confidential.

OpenAI even allegedly approached Apple’s own supply chain partners using Apple’s proprietary metal-finishing technique – telling them Apple had given permission. Apple hadn’t.

Over 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI.

Apple says this is “the tip of the iceberg.”

The irony: these two companies had a public partnership just two years ago. ChatGPT was literally integrated into Siri. Now Apple is replacing that integration with Google Gemini and filing lawsuits.

The hardware wars just got a lot more interesting.

Apple just sued OpenAI. And the details are wild.