Tech giant Apple has filed a lawsuit against artificial intelligence firm OpenAI and several of its employees, alleging the theft of trade secrets.

The legal action, initiated on a Friday, targets OpenAI's emerging hardware business, which Apple claims is fundamentally flawed.

In its filing, Apple asserted that OpenAI's nascent hardware operations are "rotten to its core." This strong language underscores the severity of the accusations leveled against the AI company.

The lawsuit marks a significant development in the competitive landscape between major technology players, particularly as AI capabilities become increasingly integrated into hardware products.

Further details regarding the specific trade secrets allegedly stolen were not immediately available in the brief wire report.