OpenAI says ex-employee took device secrets to Apple

OpenAI says in a new court filing that a former employee who went back to Apple ↘ 0.28% sent more than 100 "highly confidential" files about at least one unreleased OpenAI device to his personal accounts. According to the filing, he later gave a presentation about OpenAI's plans to senior Apple leaders. Apple told Reuters it has found no evidence to support the allegations.9to5mac+1

The filing, made Tuesday, Oct. 13, in federal court in San Jose, California, flips the script in a trade secrets case that Apple started in July. In that suit, Apple accuses OpenAI of benefiting from confidential information that former Apple staff brought to its hardware division.money.usnews+1

What OpenAI alleges

OpenAI says it found the file transfers through "a recent and ongoing forensic investigation arising from this lawsuit." According to the filing, the employee had joined OpenAI from Apple, stayed for six months and then returned to Apple. OpenAI says he sent the files on June 2, 2026, his last day at the company. OpenAI says the files included detailed images of the unreleased device or devices, engineering and manufacturing data, supplier information, standards for cosmetic finishes, and reports on coating and sealing hardware components.9to5mac

OpenAI also says the employee presented its plans to Apple's senior leadership, including the company's vice president of operations in Asia. "That presentation appears to have happened months ago—and now, armed with that information, Apple is making a new push into AI-enabled products," OpenAI wrote. Reuters reported that the filing points to Apple's release of its HomeView product this week.money.usnews+1

"OpenAI is very concerned that its trade secret and confidential information is now circulating inside Apple, where Apple engineers can shape Apple's upcoming products based on OpenAI's confidential and innovative work," the company said. It added that Apple has not given it the assurances it asked for.9to5mac+1

Apple's response

Apple said it has policies and procedures in place so that new employees do not use confidential information from previous employers.money.usnews

A widening dispute

Apple sued OpenAI on July 10, along with two former Apple employees: Chang Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer, and Tang Yew Tan, now OpenAI's chief hardware officer. Apple says Liu kept his work laptop and used an authentication bug to download dozens of confidential hardware files. It says Tan encouraged job candidates to bring Apple parts to interviews for "show and tell" sessions. According to Apple, more than 400 of its former employees now work at OpenAI.reuters+1

In August, Apple asked for a preliminary injunction. It also said 11 more former employees may have been witnesses to or involved in the alleged misconduct. OpenAI has denied Apple's claims. It called the injunction request "both based on false information and completely unnecessary because we do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets".openai+1