OpenAI accuses Apple hire of taking 100-plus secret files

OpenAI accused a former employee who returned to Apple of taking more than 100 confidential documents, in a court filing reported by Mynet on Oct. 15.

The allegation matters because it turns a July Apple lawsuit against OpenAI into dueling trade-secret claims over AI hardware plans, with Apple previously alleging OpenAI took dozens of confidential hardware files.

OpenAI said in the filing that the former employee sent the documents to a personal account on June 2, the person’s last day at OpenAI before returning to Apple. The company said the materials covered an unreleased device and included engineering and manufacturing data, supplier information and internal project documents.

OpenAI also said the former employee presented its product plans to senior Apple executives. OpenAI argued that the information may have helped Apple advance plans for artificial-intelligence products, including smart-home devices Apple announced on Tuesday.

Apple rejected the allegations, saying OpenAI had not provided evidence to support them. Apple also said the accusations were intended to divert attention from another lawsuit between the companies, according to Mynet’s account.

The dispute follows Apple’s July lawsuit accusing OpenAI of taking Apple trade secrets and confidential information to develop new consumer hardware. Apple named former employees Tang Yew Tan and Chang Liu in that case and asked for the use of the alleged trade secrets to stop, the return of confidential materials and monetary damages.

Apple alleged in that July filing that Tan asked job candidates still working at Apple to bring confidential Apple hardware components to interviews with OpenAI. Apple also alleged Liu accessed Apple’s network through a former colleague’s computer and downloaded dozens of confidential hardware files for unreleased products.

The next step described in the available report is the continuing litigation between Apple and OpenAI over whether either side misused protected information tied to hardware development.

Source: news report, Mynet citing Anadolu Agency and The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 15, 2026