OpenAI says an employee who left for Apple sent over 100 confidential files about an unreleased OpenAI device to personal accounts
$AAPL - OPENAI EMPLOYEE WHO LEFT FOR APPLE SENT OVER 100 FILES ABOUT UNRELASED OPENAI PRODUCT TO PERSONAL ACCOUNTS - OPENAI BRIEF IN APPLE VS OPENAI LAWSUIT
Context
The trade secrets fight between Apple and OpenAI has turned into a two way battle over AI hardware, with each side now accusing the other of using its device secrets.
This item is secondhand: Walter Bloomberg is a headline account summarizing an OpenAI court filing. Apple sued former employees and OpenAI in July, accusing them of stealing trade secrets to benefit OpenAI, according to 9to5Mac. The filing is a supplement OpenAI made on October 14 in that case, Apple v Liu, before a case management conference the same day.
- Court filing: OpenAI supplement in Apple v. Liu (via 9to5Mac)
- 9to5Mac: OpenAI alleges ex employee took confidential device files to Apple
- The Verge: OpenAI claims an ex employee took its product plans to Apple
- DeItaone on X: employee gave senior Apple leaders a presentation
- DeItaone on X: leaked files include device images and supplier info
- AndrewCurran_ on X: former OpenAI employee presented to Apple leadership
Deep dive
On October 14, Walter Bloomberg posted that an OpenAI employee who left for Apple sent over 100 files about an unreleased OpenAI product to personal accounts, citing an OpenAI brief in the Apple versus OpenAI lawsuit. In follow up posts he added that the employee gave senior Apple leaders a presentation about the product, that the files include device images, engineering data and supplier information, and that OpenAI says Apple has not assured it that it does not hold or use OpenAI confidential data. Andrew Curran also posted about the filing.
The filing itself says the former employee joined OpenAI from Apple, worked there for six months and has returned to Apple. It says he sent over a hundred highly confidential files about at least one unreleased OpenAI device to personal accounts, including detailed device images, engineering and manufacturing data, supplier information, standards for cosmetic finishes and reports on coating and sealing of hardware components. Some files were sent just after midnight in Singapore on June 2, 2026, his final day.
OpenAI also says it understands he presented its product plans to Apple's senior leadership, including Apple's vice president of operations in Asia. The Verge reports OpenAI links Apple's new HomeView smart display and other devices to that presentation. OpenAI asked to discuss a schedule that would let it investigate and, if necessary, file counterclaims.
These are allegations, and the employee is not named. 9to5Mac, citing Reuters, reports Apple says it has found no evidence supporting them and has policies to stop new employees using former employers' confidential information.
What to expect next
Watch the court's response to OpenAI's request at the case management conference, and whether OpenAI files counterclaims against Apple or the former employee.
Also watch what the case reveals about OpenAI's unreleased device, since the filing confirms it has at least one hardware product in development with outside suppliers, and whether Apple's new smart home devices draw more scrutiny as the dispute continues.