Relations between the world’s two biggest tech companies, Apple and OpenAI, have now turned sour. The situation has become so serious that Apple has started legal action against OpenAI and two of its own former employees in a US court. Apple seriously alleges that OpenAI has conspired to build its own hardware business by stealing its trade secrets and confidential hardware designs.
What is Apple’s real allegation?
Apple says that OpenAI has extracted sensitive information of the company by recruiting its former employees and through its supplier network. The company fears that these secret files can be used by OpenAI to create such AI-based devices in the future, which can become a big challenge for Apple’s products. On the other hand, OpenAI has rejected all these allegations as baseless. They say that they are only focused on creating new technology for the benefit of mankind and are not interested in any other company’s confidential information.
iPhone market in danger?
Technology experts believe that this war is not limited to just theft of files, but it is a fight to capture the future AI device market. OpenAI is reportedly working on hardware that could eliminate the need for traditional smartphones and operating systems. If this happens, the reign of the iPhone may be in danger. This is why Apple is taking this matter so seriously.
Former employees playing ‘double game’?
In this case, Apple has also put two of its former employees in the dock. It is alleged that one of them did not return his laptop after resigning and downloaded confidential files by breaking into Apple’s network. While the other is accused of sending information related to Apple’s suppliers and internal reports on his personal email. The surprising thing is that Apple revealed in the court that more than 400 such employees are currently working in OpenAI, who were once a part of Apple. Apple clearly says that changing a company is not a crime, but stealing its secret information is a direct violation of the law.
Once upon a time they were partners, now they are arch enemies.
There was a time when these two companies were working together. In 2024, Apple included ChatGPT in Siri with its ‘Apple Intelligence’, so that iPhone users can get a better experience. But as the AI race intensified, the competition between the two increased. After OpenAI bought the hardware startup of former Apple designer Jony Ive for $6.5 billion, it became clear that OpenAI no longer wants to be limited to just software, but it is preparing to knock directly into Apple’s stronghold i.e. the hardware market.
Comments are closed.