# How Apple’s big lawsuit could disrupt OpenAI’s IPO plans > Source: > Published: 2026-07-17 17:45:46+00:00 Apple [filed a trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/13/the-wildest-allegations-in-apples-trade-secrets-lawsuit-against-openai/) last Friday, and it’s not messing around. The complaint alleges a pattern of misconduct reaching all the way up to OpenAI’s chief hardware officer and claims more than 400 former Apple employees now work at the company. [OpenAI’s response so far](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/14/openai-pushes-back-on-apple-trade-secret-lawsuit/) has been carefully hedged, and the timing couldn’t be worse with the company reportedly eyeing an IPO as early as later this year. On this episode of TechCrunch’s [Equity](https://techcrunch.com/podcasts/equity/) podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane dig into what the lawsuit could mean for OpenAI’s own hardware ambitions and IPO timeline, plus a bigger theme running through the week’s news: how much should anyone trust AI companies with their data? Subscribe to Equity on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@TechCrunch),[ Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1215439780),[ Overcast](https://overcast.fm/itunes1215439780/equity),[ Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/5IEYLip3eDppcOmy5DmphC?si=rZDFHv2sQUul_g94iCRgpQ) and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on[ X](https://twitter.com/EquityPod) and[ Threads](https://www.threads.net/@equitypod), at @EquityPod.