Apple files trade secret lawsuit
Apple sued OpenAI in federal court on Friday, alleging that former Apple employees took confidential information about device hardware to OpenAI to help build the AI company's nascent hardware business. Apple's lawsuit describes OpenAI's hardware division as 'rotten to its core,' accusing the company of systematic theft of trade secrets. The suit reportedly involves coordination between former Apple employees and senior OpenAI leadership.
OpenAI launches GPT-5.6
In parallel news, OpenAI launched its new GPT-5.6 family of models and ChatGPT Work after receiving US government approval. CEO Sam Altman said the new models address growing enterprise demand for cheaper, more efficient AI — a topic that dominated discussions at the Sun Valley conference. OpenAI also saw its No. 2 executive step down in the latest leadership shake-up as the company prepares for a potential public offering.
Industry-wide implications
The Apple-OpenAI legal battle adds to a growing wave of IP litigation in the AI sector. Florida also filed a separate lawsuit against OpenAI, which was assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon. The case could set precedent for how courts handle claims of trade secret theft involving AI companies, where employee mobility between firms is common and the line between general knowledge and confidential information is often contested.