{
  "id": 4748549,
  "title": "Apple shares ‘shocking evidence’ against former employee accused of stealing company data for OpenAI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/apple-shares-shocking-evidence-against-former-employee-accused-of",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-01T00:13:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/31/apple-shares-shocking-evidence-against-former-employee-accused-of-stealing-company-data-for-openai/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Apple has presented what it calls \"shocking evidence\" in its lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that former employee Chang Liu stole trade secrets for OpenAI's benefit. The evidence includes a confidential Apple circuit schematic and a tool with a name similar to an internal Apple engineering application that Liu used while working at OpenAI. Apple claims that OpenAI was aware of Liu's access to Apple data and that he enlisted the help of OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to destroy evidence after learning that Apple was investigating him. Apple's new filing, which includes redacted details, suggests that Liu exploited a rare authentication bug to maintain access to Apple files after leaving the company. OpenAI has previously defended Liu, stating that he only accessed Apple files after leaving Apple to assist former colleagues. Apple is seeking a preliminary injunction and expedited discovery, alleging that more than 400 former Apple employees may also be working at OpenAI.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "9to5Mac",
        "title": "Apple reveals ‘shocking evidence’ from ex-employee’s MacBook in OpenAI suit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/apple-reveals-shocking-evidence-from-ex-employees-macbook-in-openai",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:20:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "AppleInsider",
        "title": "New evidence shows OpenAI's trade secret theft & destruction of evidence, says Apple",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/new-evidence-shows-openais-trade-secret-theft-destruction-of-evidence",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:24:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Apple alleges OpenAI defendant accessed circuit schematic",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/apple-alleges-openai-defendant-accessed-circuit-schematic",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:29:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Apple alleges OpenAI employee accessed circuit plans after joining startup",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/apple-alleges-openai-employee-accessed-circuit-plans-after-joining",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:41:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Economic Times Tech",
        "title": "Apple alleges OpenAI employee accessed circuit plans after joining startup",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/apple-alleges-openai-employee-accessed-circuit-plans-after-joining",
        "published": "2026-09-01T02:21:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}