Apple reveals ‘shocking evidence’ in OpenAI trade secrets lawsuit

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two of its former employees, alleging the theft of trade secrets. The tech giant claims to have uncovered "shocking evidence" and is requesting expedited discovery from the court. Apple's lawsuit, filed in July, names OpenAI, its hardware subsidiary io Products, and two ex-Apple employees who now work at OpenAI.

The former iPhone engineer Chang Liu and OpenAI's Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan are accused of using Apple's trade secrets to develop hardware products for the AI company. Liu, who previously worked at Apple for 24 years, allegedly used confidential Apple circuit schematics and a tool named after an internal Apple engineering application while employed at OpenAI.

Apple further alleges that other OpenAI employees were aware of Liu's unauthorized access to Apple's third-party cloud storage and that Liu instructed another OpenAI employee to destroy evidence after the company began an internal investigation into him. Apple is also seeking the return of Liu's MacBook and a Mac mini used in his work at OpenAI.

OpenAI has responded to the lawsuit, denying any wrongdoing and providing text messages they claim contradict some of Apple's claims. Apple has also sent legal preservation letters to roughly 40 other former Apple employees who now work at OpenAI.