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OpenAI alleges ex-employee took ‘highly confidential’ device files to Apple
In a new filing today, OpenAI claims that a former employee who departed for Apple sent “over a hundred highly confidential files about at least one unreleased OpenAI device under development to his personal accounts.”
Apple, however, told Reuters that it hasn’t found any evidence to support these allegations.
This is the latest development in the ongoing trade secrets lawsuit between Apple and OpenAI. Apple filed the lawsuit in July, accusing former employees of stealing trade secrets to benefit OpenAI. In August, Apple revealed what it called “shocking evidence” based on an early forensic analysis of a laptop used by a former engineer who left for OpenAI.
Based on a recent and ongoing forensic investigation arising from this lawsuit, OpenAI has learned that a former OpenAI employee (who joined OpenAI from Apple, worked for OpenAI for six months, and has now returned to Apple) , sent over a hundred highly confidential files about at least one unreleased OpenAI device under development to his personal accounts. The files at issue include detailed images of the unreleased device(s), as well as highly confidential engineering and manufacturing data about the device(s). The files also include supplier information and project files, standards for cosmetic finishes, and reports regarding coating and sealing of hardware components.
OpenAI goes on to allege that the files were sent on June 2, 2026, which was the employee’s final day at the company. The employee also allegedly “made a presentation about OpenAI’s plans to Apple’s senior leadership, including Apple’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 writes.
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. OpenAI has raised these issues directly with Apple, but to date, Apple has not provided OpenAI with the requested assurances that Apple is not in possession of, and has not used, OpenAI’s trade secret and confidential information.
Apple, however, says that it hasn’t found any evidence to support OpenAI’s claims. As reported by Reuters, Apple has “policies and procedures in place to ensure new employees do not use confidential information from previous employers.”
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