OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple

OpenAI accused an ex-employee, who had previously worked at Apple, of providing sensitive information about an unreleased product to Apple. The employee, who had joined OpenAI and then returned six months later, allegedly sent over a hundred confidential files containing manufacturing data and images of at least one unreleased product to personal accounts.

OpenAI believes that Apple could use this information to further its AI device development. OpenAI has expressed concern that its trade secrets are now circulating within Apple, where engineers could utilize the confidential and innovative work for their own products. OpenAI has communicated these issues directly to Apple, but Apple has not provided any assurances that the company is not in possession of or using OpenAI's trade secrets.

OpenAI has requested the court to investigate and pursue counterclaims if needed. Apple maintains that it has found no evidence supporting OpenAI's claims and has policies to prevent employees from using confidential information from previous employers. The legal battle between Apple and OpenAI has been ongoing since Apple filed a lawsuit in July, alleging that OpenAI employees stole trade secrets to develop new AI hardware.

OpenAI dismissed Apple's allegations as "careless, aggressive and oddly personal" and emphasized its focus on building innovative products. The court has partially granted Apple's request for expedited discovery, allowing Apple up to two weeks to obtain forensic evidence and interview former Apple employees. Judge Edward Davila is likely to grant a preliminary injunction preventing OpenAI from using Apple's allegedly stolen trade secrets, which could hinder OpenAI's hardware development efforts.