OpenAI on Tuesday pushed back against Apple’s allegations in the trade secret lawsuit, suggesting the complaint is without merit.
“While we take these allegations seriously, we are not aware of any evidence that this complaint is warranted,” OpenAI said in a statement first shared with X by Bloomberg reporter Ed Ludlow. “We believe in fair competition and giving people the freedom to work wherever they want, and we are focused on building innovative technology that empowers people wherever they are.”
The statement comes days after Apple filed a lawsuit against the AI Institute, alleging that OpenAI employees who previously worked for the iPhone maker engaged in organized activities to obtain confidential information and intellectual property. The 41-page complaint, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, includes a series of allegations against OpenAI leadership, including Chief Hardware Officer Tan Tan. Prior to joining OpenAI, Tan was a 24-year veteran of Apple, where he held senior positions including Vice President of Product Design for the iPhone and Apple Watch.
This is the first time OpenAI has commented on the incident itself. In its first statement hours after filing the lawsuit, Apple declared that it had no interest in technology developed by other companies, telling TechCrunch: “We have no interest in the trade secrets of other companies. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”
Apple alleges in its lawsuit that an internal investigation found evidence that OpenAI and its partners used the company’s confidential information in developing its hardware products.
The report, along with OpenAI’s recent acquisition of Jony Ive’s startup io, suggests the company is working on a device that could directly compete with Apple’s business. Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that OpenAI is working on a mobile smart speaker without a screen. People familiar with the project describe the smart speaker as a “human-like AI companion” designed to live in the home.
The device reportedly has no screen, contains moving mechanical elements, and was built with input from several former Apple engineers who worked on the iPhone and Mac.
TechCrunch has reached out to OpenAI for further comment and will update this article when the company responds.
If you buy through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This does not affect editorial independence.
