In a new filing today, OpenAI alleges that a former employee who left for Apple “sent over a hundred highly confidential files about at least one undisclosed OpenAI device under development to his personal accounts.”
Apple did say though Reuters that it found no evidence to support these allegations.
This is the latest development in the ongoing trade secret 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.
In today’s filing, OpenAI says:
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 undisclosed OpenAI device under development to his personal accounts. The files at issue contain 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 on coating and sealing of hardware components.
OpenAI further claims that the files were sent on June 2, 2026, which was the employee’s last 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.”
“This presentation seems to have happened months ago – and now, armed with this information, Apple is making a new push into AI-enabled products,” writes OpenAI.
OpenAI is very concerned that its trade secret and confidential information is now circulating within Apple, where Apple engineers can shape Apple’s future 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 does not own, and has not used, OpenAI’s trade secret and confidential information.
Apple, however, says it has found no evidence to support OpenAI’s claims. As reported by ReutersApple has “policies and procedures in place to ensure that new employees do not use confidential information from former employers.”
You can read OpenAI’s full file below.
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