{"text":[[{"start":8,"text":"Apple has accused OpenAI and two of its employees of stealing top-secret information in a lawsuit filed in a California federal court on Friday, as the relationship between two of the biggest names in Silicon Valley unravels."}],[{"start":21.7,"text":"Apple claimed that the ChatGPT maker has used its former and current employees to steal hardware designs as the start-up prepares to launch its own AI-focused devices. It alleged that this was part of a pattern of misconduct normalised by OpenAI’s top leadership."}],[{"start":38.75,"text":"“Significant evidence has emerged suggesting individuals employed by OpenAI wrongfully took Apple’s secret and confidential information regarding our unreleased technologies, processes and products,” Apple said. “We will always defend our teams’ hard work and innovations, and we are taking all appropriate steps to do so.”"}],[{"start":57.45,"text":"A spokesman for OpenAI said: “We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”"}],[{"start":67.75,"text":"The lawsuit marks a breakdown in the relationship between Apple and OpenAI as each encroaches on the other’s territory: Apple, with the launch of its new ChatGPT-like Siri in June, and OpenAI with its plan to take on the iPhone."}],[{"start":82.5,"text":"OpenAI signalled its plan to compete with Apple in the consumer device space when it acquired io, the studio led by Apple’s former design chief Jony Ive, for $6.4bn in May last year. "}],[{"start":96.45,"text":"OpenAI has since aggressively poached employees from Apple, part of a broader trend of AI talent leaving the company. Apple claims that over 400 of its former employees now work there."}],[{"start":107.5,"text":"While OpenAI in 2024 became Apple’s first big partner in the AI space, integrating ChatGPT into Siri, Apple has since partnered with Google for its newest features."}],[{"start":118.8,"text":"Apple said in its lawsuit it launched an internal investigation into OpenAI’s potential theft of trade secrets in February and warned the ChatGPT maker but received no response."}],[{"start":131.05,"text":"Apple alleged that the evidence detailed in the complaint was just the “tip of the iceberg” at OpenAI, “where such misconduct is normalised and exemplified by leadership”."}],[{"start":140.5,"text":"“As a natural result, OpenAI’s nascent hardware business now rests on the shakiest of foundations, rotten to its core by its illegal reliance on misappropriated trade secrets,” the lawsuit said."}],[{"start":153.45,"text":"Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, left Apple in early 2024 to join Ive’s outfit before it was acquired by OpenAI. Tan had a 24-year career at Apple which included a spell as vice-president of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch."}],[{"start":169.95,"text":"The lawsuit alleged that Tan shared with OpenAI confidential information about Apple’s suppliers in the months before he left the iPhone maker. Now, “when interviewing Apple employees for jobs at OpenAI, Mr Tan uses Apple’s confidential information to gain access to even more insider knowledge”, it said."}],[{"start":188.39999999999998,"text":"Apple claimed that Tan and OpenAI had instructed Apple employees to bring digital designs and prototypes from the highly secretive tech company to interviews at the AI start-up for “show and tell sessions”."}],[{"start":201.95,"text":"Chang Liu, a former electrical engineer at Apple, worked on some of the company’s “most sensitive product development programs” before he joined OpenAI in January of this year, according to the lawsuit. "}],[{"start":213.14999999999998,"text":"Apple alleged that Liu failed to return at least one work device and did not respond to queries about whether he had complied with other “exit procedures”. "}],[{"start":222.45,"text":"The lawsuit also claimed that Liu used an Apple employee’s computer to access trade secrets and coached her on how to copy files while evading Apple’s security before she departed for OpenAI in April."}],[{"start":235,"text":"Liu further exploited a “vulnerability” in Apple’s network storage to steal confidential files after he left the company, the lawsuit said. Apple said Liu texted the employee, “LOL, I found out I can access the [network storage], so funny.” "}],[{"start":251,"text":"Other former Apple employees have similarly taken confidential information with them “on their way out the door”, according to the lawsuit."}],[{"start":259.65,"text":"Apple is seeking a legal injunction that will prevent OpenAI, Tan and Liu from destroying evidence related to its claims and “return all copies of Apple’s trade secrets and confidential information”. It is also asking for damages or royalties from any misappropriated trade secrets."}],[{"start":277,"text":"The start-up, which is preparing for a potential public listing next year, already faced a legal dispute this year with Elon Musk, who sued the company and founder Sam Altman for transforming it into a for-profit company.The case, thrown out by a jury in May, proved a costly and embarrassing distraction for OpenAI, which has pushed beyond developing AI models to building its own chips, AI infrastructure and consumer tech products."}],[{"start":303.95,"text":"The FT has reported that OpenAI investors have increasingly scrutinised its $852bn valuation as it has been leapfrogged by Anthropic. Apple said in its lawsuit that the alleged attempts to steal its trade secrets stemmed in part from OpenAI’s need to find new lines of revenue quickly."}],[{"start":330.24999999999994,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1783743247_1707.mp3"}