Apple says OpenAI’s hardware chief asked job candidates to smuggle in parts

Apple’s trade secret lawsuit against OpenAI, filed July 10 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that OpenAI’s chief hardware officer Tang Tan directed job candidates still employed at Apple to bring ‘actual parts’ to interviews for ‘show and tell’ sessions. Tan is a 24-year Apple veteran who led design for the iPhone and Apple Watch before joining OpenAI.

The lawsuit also names Chang Liu, a former iPhone hardware engineer who joined OpenAI in January 2026. Apple alleges Liu kept an Apple-issued laptop after leaving, exploited an authentication bug to reach Apple’s shared network folders, and downloaded dozens of confidential hardware files on unreleased products.

Apple further claims OpenAI approached one of its manufacturing partners to demonstrate a metal-finishing technique Apple invented, misleading the partner into believing Apple had signed off. Apple sent OpenAI a warning letter in February 2026, which the lawsuit says went unanswered.

OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri denied the allegations: ‘We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.’ The lawsuit has also drawn public commentary from Elon Musk, who lost a separate case against OpenAI in May.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/by Steve Jurvetson