Apple Inc. asked a federal judge to immediately order OpenAI to stop using what it calls stolen trade secrets, in the latest episode of its lawsuit in which it accuses the artificial intelligence company of participating in a coordinated campaign to steal confidential information about upcoming products.
The company requests a court order forcing OpenAI to return all confidential information to Apple and to cease any attempts to obtain other private data. This order would remain in force while Apple’s litigation continues.
“If Apple’s trade secrets are used and spread throughout OpenAI, or are integrated into its products and operations, the damage will be irreparable,” the company’s lawyers said in a court filing Tuesday.
In a statement, OpenAI stated that the request for Apple “It is based on false information and is completely unnecessary.”
“We do not have, nor do we want, any of your trade secrets,” the company stated in a post on its website. “We are much more interested in developing innovative products and technologies that push the boundaries.”
In July, the iPhone maker sued OpenAI and its hardware boss, ending a relationship between two companies that had worked together as partners in recent years.
Read more: Apple sues OpenAI for theft of trade secrets in a crucial case.
OpenAI, Creator of the ChatGPT chatbot, it has provided essential technology to the Apple Intelligence platform and the Siri digital assistant. However, tensions have been rising over the past year, exacerbated by OpenAI’s hiring of former Apple design visionary Jony Ive for device development. According to the lawsuit, the AI company has hired more than 400 former Apple employees.
Apple’s lawsuit also mentions Chang Liu, a former iPhone engineer who joined OpenAI in January. Apple claims that Liu accessed sensitive hardware-related files for several weeks while developing devices for OpenAI, after discovering an authentication flaw that allowed him to access Apple information.
However, OpenAI He stated that Liu was contacted by his former colleagues at Apple, who were looking for help locating information necessary for their work. OpenAI published excerpts of text messages exchanged between an unidentified Apple employee and Liu, purportedly showing the request for help.
OpenAI has until August 17 to file a response to Apple’s motion with the court. The judge is scheduled to hear arguments on the motion on October 1.
The case is Apple vs. Liu, 5:26-cv-07078, United States District Court, Northern District of California in the San Jose Division).
