OpenAI rejected the accusations leveled by Apple in the lawsuit regarding trade secret theft, asserting that it sees no evidence to substantiate the claims and that it continues to focus on developing innovative technologies that serve users.

In a statement carried by Bloomberg, the company said: 'We take these allegations seriously, but we are not aware of any evidence that the complaint is based on substance. We believe in fair competition and in the right of individuals to work for the entity they choose, and we focus on developing innovative technologies that empower users around the world.'

Lawsuit accuses former Apple employees

OpenAI's statement came days after Apple filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing a number of OpenAI employees who previously worked at Apple of participating in a coordinated effort to obtain confidential information and intellectual property rights belonging to the company.

The lawsuit, which spans 41 pages, includes allegations against several OpenAI leaders, including Tang Tan, the company's head of hardware, who spent 24 years at Apple, holding prominent roles, most notably Vice President of iPhone and Apple Watch product design, before moving to OpenAI.

This is OpenAI's first official comment on the case itself, after its initial response, hours after the lawsuit was filed, merely stating that it 'does not care about other companies' trade secrets' and that its focus is on developing new technologies.

Apple: Confidential information used to develop competing devices

Apple claims that its internal investigations revealed evidence indicating that OpenAI and its partners used confidential information owned by the company while working on developing new devices that could compete with Apple's products.

These allegations come as indications grow that OpenAI is entering the smart device market, especially after its recent acquisition of the startup io, founded by renowned designer Jony Ive, the former designer of Apple's most prominent products.

Screenless smart headset on the way

According to a recent Bloomberg report, OpenAI is currently developing a portable smart headset without a screen, described internally as a 'human-like AI companion' designed to be part of daily life at home.

The report noted that the device will incorporate moving mechanical components and is being developed with the participation of several former Apple engineers who contributed to designing devices like the iPhone and Mac, bolstering expectations that OpenAI is preparing to compete with Apple in the AI-powered smart device market.

OpenAI has not issued any additional comments regarding the details of the lawsuit so far, while press reports indicated that the case may see new developments as legal proceedings continue in the coming period.

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