New Delhi: The partnership between Apple and OpenAI has definitely gone sour. The two firms used to be more closely aligned, but now they are in court, with OpenAI accusing Apple of using its “private” data to help develop its own consumer hardware business.
Apple has itself to blame for this dispute, OpenAI told a U.S. court Monday. After the hiring of former Apple employees, OpenAI has flatly rejected Apple’s allegations of taking or misusing trade secrets.
Why did Apple sue OpenAI?
In July, Apple sued OpenAI and two former employees, Tang Tan and Chang Liu. They were previously both employed by Apple, prior to joining OpenAI.
Apple alleges that the former workers had access to and/or acquired confidential information pertaining to Apple hardware design, manufacturing and supply-chain operations. The fact that this information could have assisted OpenAI during development of its new consumer devices is of great interest to Apple, the company says.
The case took a turn for the worse when Apple just recently presented evidence regarding Liu. According to Apple, Liu had access to a “confidential circuit design” when he was a part of OpenAI, and the information was used during an AI project. Apple has also protested against the way evidence is being handled in the case.
What is OpenAI saying?
OpenAI is adamant against Apple’s allegations. According to the company, Apple has made no evidence of the theft or use of its trade secrets.
Apple, too, has been blamed by OpenAI for the situation, as it says that the company’s own security and employee-exit protocols caused it. Apple lets staff members use their personal iCloud accounts for work, and quickly expels staff who leave its offices, which makes it more difficult to clean up or return company information as necessary, according to OpenAI.
Apple employees also have the legal right to exit the company and enter into competition, OpenAI says. The company says it has hired around 400 former Apple employees for its growing hardware efforts.
Why is this important?
This battle is more than a battle between two former employees. OpenAI is getting more into consumer hardware and is getting closer to the Apple business.
OpenAI and the two companies had been collaborating on introducing ChatGPT capabilities into Apple’s products, but the relationship has not been smooth in the past due to OpenAI’s move into hardware.
The court will now determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with Apple’s case. Apple wants to have more time to investigate the alleged misuse of its confidential information, while OpenAI is requesting the judge to dismiss the case.
