OpenAI accuses Apple to have received secret data from former employee

A OpenAI accuses one of its former workers of, before abandoning the Artificial Intelligence company, having taken with it more than 100 files related to plans for future products and presenting them to Apple.

The charges are made by OpenAI in new documents filed in court this Wednesday, the 14th.

In these documents, OpenAI states that the former employee will have sent the files in question to a personal account on 2 June 2026, then presenting the plans of the Artificial Intelligence company directly to Apple’s leadership – including the vice president of the Apple Company’s operations in Asia.

This is the latest development in the legal battle that opposes Apple and OpenAI, with Cupertino's technology moving, in July, a lawsuit for improper appropriation of confidential data against ChatGPT's creator.

The new chapter of the legal battle

Remember that, in this process, are specifically targeted two old Apple paintings, including Tang Tan, co-founder of startup io Products with Jony Ive, former designer of the apple brand products.

Io Products was acquired by OpenAI in May 2025 for 6.5 billion dollars, an important step in the diversification of ChatGPT creator, which plans to launch a range of AI-centered devices by 2027.

According to Apple, Tang Tan took with him internal documents when he left the company in 2024.

Now responsible for the physical products at OpenAI, you would be actively seeking additional data from Apple employees who apply for a position in the AI-leading company, according to the legal document.

Another former Apple employee, Chang Liu, is accused of storing internal devices after leaving the company in 2026 and continuing to access the internal computer network.

“As more than 400 former Apple employees currently work at OpenAI, it is not surprising that some are aware of confidential and protected information”, recognizes the consumer electronics giant.

“ But OpenAI has decided to exploit this information”, however, says the creator of the iPhone.

The charges of OpenAI

It turns out, at the moment, it was OpenAI that decided to attack Apple and hire one of its employees, claiming that the files allowed the rival company to have access to images of at least one product to launch – in addition to information from suppliers, engineering data, project files, standards for cosmetic finishes and also “coating and insulation of hardware components”.

Moreover, the documents even involve the recent homeview announcement. OpenAI claims that Apple has decided to launch itself on the market for devices equipped with Artificial Intelligence, noting that the initiative was taken after the already mentioned presentation of the stolen files to OpenAI.

“ This presentation seems to have happened months ago and now, in possession of that information, Apple is making a new investment in products with Artificial Intelligence.”you can read it in the papers.

Despite these accusations, it must be remembered that since 2024 we see rumors circulating about HomeView. The available information indicates that the device has been successively delayed due to Apple's delays in the development of Artificial Intelligence.

“OpenAI is very concerned that its business secrets and confidential information may be circulating within Apple, where Apple engineers can shape future company products from OpenAI’s secret and innovative work”, accuses the Artificial Intelligence company. “OpenAI raised these issues directly with Apple but so far Apple has not provided OpenAI with the requested guarantees that it does not own or used OpenAI’s confidential business secrets and information”.

Apple didn't officially state these charges, but it did Reuters that “has policies and procedures to ensure that new workers do not resort to confidential information from former employers”, noting that he also has no evidence to support OpenAI's allegations.