OpenAI has accused a former employee of taking more than one hundred confidential files related to the company's product plans before joining Apple. According to a legal filing submitted on Wednesday, the employee sent the information to a personal account and then presented it to Apple leadership, including the vice president responsible for the company's operations in Asia.
What the filing alleges
The former employee is said to have taken over one hundred files containing images of at least one unreleased device, along with supplier information, engineering data, project files, standards for cosmetic finishes, and reports about the "coating and sealing of hardware components." OpenAI links Apple's new HomeView smart display and other devices revealed this week to the content of that presentation. The company claims the presentation occurred months ago and that, armed with that information, Apple is now making a new push into AI-enabled products.
OpenAI's position
OpenAI states it 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 innovative work. The filing forms part of a legal battle between Apple and OpenAI over trade secrets — though this time, OpenAI is the party accusing an ex-employee of misconduct rather than the reverse.
Apple's response
Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing confidential documents and spying on hardware prototypes to help build its own products. The Verge requested comment from Apple regarding the allegations but reported that Apple did not immediately respond.
What this means for the AI industry
The case highlights the high stakes involved when employees move between competing AI and hardware companies. With product roadmaps often spanning years, the alleged transfer of internal documents could give a competitor a significant head start. The dispute also underscores how seriously both companies view the protection of proprietary information — OpenAI is seeking to prevent its work from influencing Apple's product decisions, while Apple is defending its own stance against similar claims.