Post by : Rameen Ariff

Apple is facing a new legal battle in California after two neuroscientists filed a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of using copyrighted books without permission to train its artificial intelligence system, Apple Intelligence.

The lawsuit, filed by professors Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen Macknik from the SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, alleges that Apple used thousands of pirated books from so-called “shadow libraries” to build and train its AI model. The neuroscientists argue that their intellectual property was used illegally for Apple’s commercial benefit.

According to the lawsuit, Apple relied on these shadow libraries — online repositories containing pirated versions of books — to train its Apple Intelligence system, a suite of AI-powered features integrated into iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices. The professors claimed that their own works, including “Champions of Illusion: The Science Behind Mind-Boggling Images and Mystifying Brain Puzzles” and “Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Everyday Deceptions,” were among the materials misused.

The lawsuit also highlights the financial impact of Apple’s AI venture. It notes that the day after Apple officially introduced Apple Intelligence, the company’s market value surged by more than $200 billion, marking one of the most profitable days in its history. The neuroscientists argue that this success came at the expense of authors and creators whose works were used without consent.

Apple has not yet commented on the lawsuit, and the professors’ lawyers have also declined to make a statement. However, this is not the first time Apple has faced such allegations. Just last month, another group of authors filed a similar complaint, accusing the company of using copyrighted materials to train its AI models.

This case is part of a growing wave of lawsuits against major technology companies over the use of copyrighted works in AI development. Similar cases have been filed against OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms, as artists, authors, and publishers push back against the unauthorized use of their creative works in training artificial intelligence systems.

Earlier this year, AI firm Anthropic agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle a lawsuit filed by a group of authors who claimed their work had been used to train the company’s AI chatbot, Claude.

The neuroscientists are seeking monetary damages and a court order that would stop Apple from using their copyrighted material in future AI training. The case adds further pressure on the tech industry to establish clearer rules and ethical standards around how data is sourced and used in artificial intelligence.

If proven true, the lawsuit could have major implications for Apple and other companies using large datasets to power AI technology — sparking a wider debate on the balance between innovation and intellectual property rights.

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