OpenAI alleges ex-employee took confidential device files to Apple

[Marnie80]

OpenAI has made new allegations in its legal fight with Apple. 9to5Mac's Chance Miller reports that in a court filing, OpenAI says a former employee who returned to Apple sent more than 100 confidential files about at least one unreleased OpenAI device to his personal accounts. He allegedly did this on 2 June 2026, his last day at OpenAI, after joining from Apple only six months earlier

According to OpenAI, the files include detailed images of the device, engineering and manufacturing data, supplier details, finish standards and reports on coating and sealing hardware. That is the kind of information that would be very valuable to a competitor working on similar products

OpenAI also claims the employee presented its plans to senior Apple leaders, including Apple's vice president of operations in Asia. It says Apple refused to confirm that it does not hold or use OpenAI's secrets. Apple says it has found no evidence for the claims and that it has rules to stop new hires from using a former employer's confidential information

These are allegations in a legal filing and have not been proven. The filing is part of a wider dispute. Apple sued OpenAI in July 2026, accusing former staff of taking Apple secrets with them, and later pointed to what it called shocking evidence from a forensic check of a former engineer's laptop. Both companies are now accusing each other of similar behaviour

The case shows how fierce the competition for AI hardware has become. OpenAI's device plans have attracted huge interest, and both companies have hired heavily from each other. Courts will now have to untangle who took what, if anything

Who do you think has the stronger case? And will this fight delay OpenAI's first device?

OpenAI alleges ex-employee took 'highly confidential' device files to Apple - 9to5Mac9to5mac.com

[FirstMichael76]

Both sides accusing each other of the same thing is quite something. Staff moving between Apple and OpenAI has clearly caused a mess

The courts have a lot to untangle. It feels like a messy divorce between two tech giants. Lawyers will do very well out of it

[Cheugy89]

Hiring between rivals is normal in Silicon Valley. Taking confidential files is not. Hopefully this leads to clearer rules for people moving between companies. California's rules on non competes make movement easy. Trade secret law is the main protection left