Apple (AAPL, Financials), the company behind the iPhone, Mac and iPad, has sued OpenAI over claims that former employees took confidential product and manufacturing information with them.
Apple says some of that information involved products and processes that had not been made public. The complaint also names OpenAI hardware chief Tang Tan, a former Apple employee who spent more than two decades at the company.
According to Apple, Tan encouraged job candidates to bring Apple components to interview meetings. OpenAI has rejected the accusation and said it has no interest in another company's trade secrets.
The dispute comes at an awkward time. Apple and OpenAI only recently began working together to bring ChatGPT features to Apple devices.
Apple has been aggressive about protecting its technology before, including long court fights with Samsung and HTC. This case suggests it views OpenAI's move into hardware as more than a minor concern.
The lawsuit may take time to resolve, but the immediate issue is the relationship between the two companies. Investors will be watching for signs that the dispute begins to affect Apple's broader AI plans.