For a quarter-century, he was the unsung hero, Apple's most crucial engineer, yet largely unknown. Now, this quiet force has stepped into the spotlight, becoming the central figure in the company's most significant legal battle, a dramatic shift from his behind-the-scenes role.

Link to: https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/10/apple-sues-openai-trade-secret-theft/

The iPhone-maker claims OpenAI encouraged poached employees to bring over confidential presentations, secret prototypes, and key supplier details.

Apple accuses OpenAI and former Apple Vice President Tang Tan of extensive coordinated data theft and asks whether OpenAI's hardware plans are based around exfiltrated Apple info.

The lawsuit also targets two ex-employees, Tang Yew Tan, now OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, and engineer Chang Liu.

Link to: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-11/openai-engineer-s-lol-moment-set-stage-for-legal-fight-with-apple

Most of OpenAI’s Apple recruits came from Ternus’ hardware engineering division, and some designers had backed Tan over Ternus for the top hardware job in 2021.

John Ternus and Tang Tan had competed for control of Apple’s hardware organisation years before Tan left to build OpenAI’s iPhone challenger. Now Tan is personally accused in…

For a quarter-century, he was the unsung hero, Apple's most crucial engineer, yet largely unknown. Now, this quiet force has stepped into the spotlight, becoming the central…

Tang Tan half einst, das iPhone oder den iPod zu bauen. Nun wirft Apple ihm vor, Geschäftsgeheimnisse für seinen neuen Arbeitgeber OpenAI gestohlen zu haben. Der Fall hat eine…

Tang Tan half einst, das iPhone oder den iPod zu bauen. Nun wirft Apple ihm vor, Geschäftsgeheimnisse für seinen neuen Arbeitgeber OpenAI gestohlen zu haben. Der Fall hat eine…