OpenAI has slammed Apple in a blog post, labeling the iPhone maker’s lawsuit as ‘aggressive and oddly personal.’ The dispute centres around Apple’s allegation that OpenAI stole trade secrets during its development of AI-focused consumer devices.

The feud escalates amid encroaching territory for both companies: with OpenAI expanding into consumer products and Apple joining forces with Google to enhance Siri. The relationship soured after OpenAI acquired the design studio founded by former Apple design chief Sir Jony Ive, hiring a string of Apple employees in the process.

Apple’s lawsuit claims more than 400 ex-employees now work at OpenAI, and that it received no response from the start-up when it warned about an internal investigation into potential trade secret theft. OpenAI refutes these claims, accusing Apple’s lawyers of misdirecting communications and making vague accusations.

In a bid to clarify its stance, OpenAI stated: ‘We do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets.’ The company further accused Apple of ‘trying to change their narrative’ by making ambiguous statements.