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answer: direct
beat: ai-industry
source: 1 article · updated: July 10, 2026
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What role does io Products play in the case?

io Products, the hardware startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, is named as a defendant alongside OpenAI. OpenAI acquired io for $6.4 billion in 2025 to build its own AI hardware device. Ive himself is not personally accused of wrongdoing anywhere in Apple's complaint.

Answered in

Apple Sues OpenAI: Inside the Trade-Secrets Lawsuit That Reads Like a Corporate Spy Thriller

Apple's 41-page federal suit accuses OpenAI's hardware chief and an ex-engineer of stealing trade secrets via codenames and a security bug.

Crashtech Editorial July 10, 2026 AI Business & Money

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