This week's episode of The MacRumors Show delves into OpenAI's foray into hardware and Apple's recent trade secret lawsuit against the company. Filed on July 10, the lawsuit alleges a scheme by OpenAI to acquire confidential information about unreleased products, focusing on former Apple executive Tang Tan and engineer Chang Liu.

Apple claims Tan facilitated the acquisition of trade secrets, including instructing an employee to bring hardware components to an interview and falsely implying Apple's permission for a proprietary metal-finishing technique. The suit follows a strained partnership and OpenAI's own consideration of legal action against Apple. Over 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI, including Paul Meade, and Jony Ive leads hardware design after OpenAI's acquisition of his startup.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests the lawsuit is already damaging, deterring Apple engineers from interviewing at OpenAI and making suppliers hesitant. OpenAI is reportedly developing a portable, screenless smart speaker, expected in early 2027 for $200-$300, and an "AI agent phone" for a potential 2027 launch, aiming to rival the iPhone. OpenAI maintains it has "no interest in other companies' trade secrets."