苹果起诉OpenAI及两名前员工窃取商业机密Apple Sues OpenAI and Two Former Employees for Trade Secret Theft

苹果公司在向加利福尼亚北区联邦地区法院提交的诉状中指出，OpenAI一直在系统性地窃取苹果的商业机密和机密信息。苹果在法律文件中明确指控，这种窃密行为存在于OpenAI的各个层面，从其技术团队成员到首席硬件官，并且是与商业伙伴协同进行的。苹果提起诉讼旨在阻止两名前员工为OpenAI的利益而窃取其商业机密的行为。诉状称，OpenAI此举是为了开发自己的消费硬件，从而加速其进入该领域的步伐。

In its legal filing submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Apple asserted that OpenAI has been systematically stealing its trade secrets and confidential information. The iPhone maker alleged in the complaint that this misappropriation occurred at every level of OpenAI, from members of its technical staff to its chief hardware officer, and was carried out in coordination with business partners. Apple stated that it brought the lawsuit to put a stop to its former employees stealing proprietary secrets for the benefit of OpenAI, which is seeking to develop its own consumer hardware.

针对这些指控，OpenAI发言人德鲁·普萨特里（Drew Pusateri）发表声明予以否认。普萨特里表示，OpenAI对其他公司的商业机密没有兴趣，公司将继续专注于构建赋能大众的创新技术。然而，苹果在诉讼中坚称，OpenAI通过前员工、招聘行为以及供应商关系，精心策划了一场广泛的行动，以获取并利用苹果包括产品设计、制造工艺和供应链策略在内的机密信息。

In response to the allegations, OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri denied the claims, stating that the artificial intelligence company has no interest in the trade secrets of other companies. Pusateri added that OpenAI remains focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere. However, Apple's complaint alleges a coordinated and broad effort by OpenAI to acquire and exploit confidential Apple information, including product designs, manufacturing processes, and supply chain strategies, to accelerate its own hardware push.

在这起诉讼中，被起诉的两名前苹果员工分别为刘昶（Chang Liu）和唐·谭（Tang Yew Tan，音译）。刘昶曾担任苹果高级系统电气工程师，而唐·谭曾任苹果iPhone和Apple Watch产品设计副总裁。两人目前均在OpenAI工作，其中唐·谭担任OpenAI的硬件主管。苹果在起诉书中指控，这两名前员工与OpenAI协同行动，窃取了苹果的机密信息，包括产品设计、制造工艺和供应链策略，以支持OpenAI开发自己的消费硬件。

The individual defendants named in the lawsuit are Chang Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer at Apple, and Tang Yew Tan, Apple's former vice president of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch. Both individuals now work at OpenAI, with Tan serving as the artificial intelligence company's hardware chief. Apple's complaint alleges a coordinated effort involving these two former employees and OpenAI to steal confidential information, including product designs, manufacturing processes, and supply chain strategies, to support OpenAI's hardware development.

起诉书披露了具体的窃密细节，特别指控刘昶在离职时未归还公司配发的工作电脑。此后，他利用一个身份认证漏洞访问了苹果的内部网络，并下载了数十个与苹果硬件相关的机密文件。此外，苹果还指控OpenAI鼓励苹果员工分享与即将推出的产品相关的机密信息、组件、图纸和其他材料。截至目前，刘昶和唐·谭均未对此诉讼请求发表公开回应。

The legal filing details specific allegations against Liu, claiming he failed to return his company-issued work laptop upon departure. Apple alleges that Liu subsequently exploited an authentication vulnerability to access Apple's internal network and download dozens of confidential, hardware-related files. Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses OpenAI of encouraging Apple employees to share proprietary information, components, drawings, and other materials related to upcoming products. Neither Liu nor Tan immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations.

这起诉讼还将io Products公司列为被告。该公司由苹果前设计主管乔尼·艾维（Jony Ive）创立，他在2019年之前一直担任苹果设计主管，并帮助推动了iPhone的诞生。OpenAI于去年以64亿美元的价格收购了io Products，并宣布与艾维合作开展一个秘密项目，旨在打造将智能手机用户带入AI时代的硬件设备。需要指出的是，诉讼并未将艾维本人列为被告，也没有指控他存在任何不当行为。

The lawsuit also names io Products as a defendant, a startup founded by Jony Ive, Apple's former design chief until 2019 who helped usher the iPhone into existence. OpenAI acquired io Products last year for $6.4 billion and announced it had been working with Ive on a hush-hush project to build devices designed to bring smartphone users into the age of AI. The complaint does not name Ive himself as a defendant, nor does it accuse him of any wrongdoing.

苹果与OpenAI之间的这场法律诉讼，实质上开启了双方对未来AI设备控制权的争夺。这些新型设备可能不再依赖传统的应用程序或操作系统。分析人士指出，如果这些新设备取得成功，可能会将消费者的注意力从苹果最畅销的iPhone上转移开。目前，OpenAI正在开发自己的手机或其他硬件设备，其首款AI设备预计将于今年晚些时候亮相，而这起诉讼可能会给这一计划带来变数。

This legal battle sets up a direct competition over who will control future AI devices that may bypass traditional apps or operating systems. If successful, such devices could direct consumer attention away from Apple's best-selling iPhone. Analysts believe OpenAI is working on a phone or other device of its own, with its first AI gadget expected to be unveiled later this year. However, Apple's lawsuit could throw a wrench into those hardware release plans.

这起诉讼标志着两家公司关系的急剧恶化。在2024年，苹果与OpenAI曾达成一项备受瞩目的合作，将ChatGPT整合到iPhone的操作系统中，当时OpenAI首席执行官山姆·奥特曼（Sam Altman）还亲自到访苹果总部出席发布活动。然而，随着OpenAI去年宣布进军硬件行业并收购io Products，双方的关系开始降温。与此同时，苹果定于今年秋季推出的新版Siri助手已转而使用谷歌的Gemini AI模型，而非OpenAI的技术。分析人士指出，苹果已将OpenAI从合作伙伴视为潜在对手，而OpenAI也试图减少对iPhone的依赖，直接建立与消费者的联系。

The lawsuit marks a dramatic rupture in relations between the two tech giants, who entered into a high-profile partnership in 2024 to integrate ChatGPT into the iPhone's operating system, an announcement marked by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman visiting Apple's headquarters. However, relations chilled after OpenAI announced plans to enter the hardware industry last year by acquiring io Products. Meanwhile, Apple's updated Siri assistant, scheduled for release this fall, has turned to Google's Gemini AI models instead of OpenAI's technology. Industry analysts note that Apple now views OpenAI as a potential rival rather than a partner, while OpenAI is attempting to reduce its dependence on the iPhone to build direct relationships with consumers.

这场法律纠纷不仅让两家公司本已脆弱的伙伴关系进一步受损，还可能对OpenAI的未来业务产生连锁反应。分析人士指出，即使指控最终未被证实，该诉讼也可能会推迟OpenAI的硬件开发计划。此外，这起诉讼还可能使OpenAI计划于近期进行的大规模、备受瞩目的首次公开募股（IPO）进程变得更加复杂。

This legal battle could have broader consequences for OpenAI beyond weakening an increasingly fragile partnership. Analysts suggest that even if the allegations remain unproven, the lawsuit could delay OpenAI's consumer hardware ambitions. Furthermore, the legal dispute threatens to complicate OpenAI's plans to go public soon in a highly anticipated, massive initial public offering.