OpenAI accuses Apple of receiving more than 100 confidential device files
OpenAI alleges a former employee took more than 100 confidential files about an unreleased device to Apple, escalating an ongoing trade secrets dispute.
OpenAI has accused a former employee who moved to Apple of taking more than 100 confidential files about an unreleased product, escalating an ongoing legal dispute between the two technology companies.
The allegation was made in a US federal court filing. OpenAI claims the former employee sent files relating to an unreleased device to a personal account before later presenting the product to senior Apple executives.
OpenAI says it is concerned that confidential information could now be circulating within Apple and influence the development of future products. Apple has disputed the allegations, saying it has found no evidence to support the claims and has procedures intended to prevent new employees from using confidential information belonging to previous employers.
Neither company’s claims have been established as fact by the court.
An ongoing dispute over confidential information
The latest filing is part of a wider trade secrets case that began after Apple accused former employees of taking confidential information to OpenAI’s hardware division. OpenAI has denied Apple’s allegations.
The competing claims highlight the growing commercial tension between the companies as OpenAI expands into consumer hardware, a market in which Apple has a long-established position.
The information at the centre of the latest allegation relates to a product that has not yet been released. Such material can be commercially sensitive because it may reveal product plans and design decisions before a company has announced them publicly.
Apple has said its investigation has not found evidence of OpenAI files on systems associated with the employee’s work. Its lawyers have also questioned whether the phone numbers identified by OpenAI were connected to Apple’s systems.
What happens next?
The dispute will continue through the legal process, with both companies contesting claims about the handling of confidential information. A judge has allowed Apple access to certain digital files and permitted depositions from former employees on an expedited schedule.
The case is expected to go to trial in 2027, although OpenAI has indicated it may be ready sooner.
The allegations reflect the growing importance of intellectual property as technology companies compete to build AI-powered devices and services. Employees moving between rival businesses can bring valuable experience, but disputes can arise when companies suspect confidential information has crossed that boundary.
For now, the central issue is what the evidence shows about the alleged transfer of files and whether any confidential information was used improperly. The court has yet to determine the merits of the competing claims.
