OpenAI has accused a former employee who joined Apple of transferring more than 100 files about an unreleased product to a personal account and presenting the material to Apple’s senior leadership.
OpenAI has accused a former employee who left the company for Apple of taking more than 100 files containing confidential information about an unreleased product and later presenting the material to senior Apple executives.
The allegation was made in a new filing in the ongoing legal battle between the two technology companies.
OpenAI claims the presentation took place several months ago and has raised concerns that confidential information could now be circulating among Apple’s engineers.
Arguing that Apple’s teams could use the material to influence the development of its own products, the company said in the filing: “OpenAI is very concerned that its trade secret and confidential information is now circulating inside Apple.”
The filing was submitted to a US federal court in San Jose, California, on Tuesday (13.10.26), just before OpenAI and Apple were due to face each other in court on Wednesday (14.10.26).
The new allegation has delayed that hearing, while OpenAI said it could pursue a countersuit.
Apple has rejected the allegations, saying it has policies designed to prevent new employees from bringing confidential information from previous employers.
The company said it had found no evidence supporting OpenAI’s claims.
The dispute is part of a broader trade secrets lawsuit originally brought by Apple against OpenAI earlier this year.
Apple alleged that employees who left the iPhone maker for OpenAI’s hardware division had taken confidential information with them.
OpenAI has denied those allegations.
The latest filing comes after US district court judge Edward Davila granted part of Apple’s request for accelerated access to digital files from OpenAI as part of the case.
Apple has been permitted to collect data from devices belonging to some former employees and take depositions from three of them on a faster timetable.
They include Chang Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer, and Tang Yew Tan, a former vice-president of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch, who are both defendants in the case.
OpenAI’s latest claims come as Apple expands its own work in artificial intelligence and launches new products.
The company cited Apple’s release of its HomeView product this week as evidence of the growing overlap between the two firms.
The case is currently expected to reach trial in October 2027, although OpenAI has said it could be ready as early as June 2027.
OpenAI employee who left for Apple accused of leaking unreleased device plans
