The allegations middle on Chang Liu, a former Apple electrical engineer who joined OpenAI in January 2026. In a brand new courtroom submitting, Apple mentioned a forensic overview of a MacBook utilized by Liu after his departure confirmed that he accessed a confidential Apple power-converter circuit schematic and later used the knowledge in his work at OpenAI.
Apple’s submitting was submitted in assist of its request for expedited discovery within the federal case. The corporate is in search of entry to extra proof because it investigates whether or not proprietary Apple know-how was improperly transferred to OpenAI’s rising {hardware} operation.
OpenAI disputes Apple’s allegations and has requested the courtroom to dismiss the lawsuit. The corporate argues that Apple has not established that its commerce secrets and techniques had been misappropriated and says the case is partly an try to limit worker motion and competitors.
Apple Factors to MacBook Proof
The most recent developments observe OpenAI’s manufacturing of an Apple-issued MacBook that Liu had continued utilizing after leaving Apple. In keeping with Apple’s submitting, the laptop computer was supplied throughout discovery on August 21, after what Apple characterised as delays in producing related proof.
Apple alleges former engineer Chang Liu accessed confidential power-converter schematics after becoming a member of OpenAI, with new proof discovered on a MacBook. Supply: Reuters by way of X
Apple mentioned its preliminary forensic evaluation indicated that Liu and others at OpenAI had been conscious that he retained entry to sure third-party Apple cloud storage accounts after leaving the corporate.
Extra considerably, Apple alleges that Liu downloaded a confidential power-converter circuit schematic and subsequently integrated data from it into his work on the AI firm. Reuters reported that Apple claims Liu used an AI agent to work with the confidential schematic in March 2026.
Apple additionally alleges that Liu used an OpenAI instrument with the identical identify as an inner Apple engineering utility. The corporate has introduced these particulars as proof supporting its request for accelerated fact-finding.
The allegations haven’t been confirmed in courtroom. Liu has denied wrongdoing, whereas the corporate continues to reject Apple’s broader claims.
Apple Alleges Proof Was Destroyed
Apple’s newest filing goes past the alleged use of confidential {hardware} data. The corporate additionally claims that proof related to the dispute might have been intentionally destroyed.
In keeping with Apple, Liu despatched directions to an OpenAI colleague in regards to the destruction of proof after he realized that Apple was investigating his actions. Apple mentioned the MacBook supplied throughout discovery contained proof supporting that allegation.
Apple alleges Liu instructed an OpenAI colleague to destroy proof, and delayed machine disclosure strengthened its case for expedited discovery. Supply: @WatcherGuru by way of X
Apple argued that the laptop computer represents solely a restricted portion of the knowledge it has obtained from the AI firm and the previous workers concerned within the case.
“The MacBook represents the very restricted data Defendants supplied up to now,” Apple’s attorneys wrote, in line with the courtroom submitting. The corporate mentioned the fabric signifies that its considerations contain greater than a speculative seek for data.
The evidence-destruction allegation is separate from the underlying query of whether or not OpenAI or its workers truly misappropriated Apple’s commerce secrets and techniques. The courtroom will in the end must assess each points because the litigation develops.
OpenAI Calls Dispute “a Mess of Apple’s Personal Making”
OpenAI has rejected Apple’s characterization of occasions and has argued that the dispute stems partly from Apple’s personal inner safety and worker offboarding procedures.
In its courtroom submitting, OpenAI described the case as “a large number of Apple’s personal making.” The corporate argued that paperwork Liu accessed after leaving Apple had been opened to help former Apple colleagues with Apple-related work and weren’t related to his obligations at OpenAI.
The corporate blames Apple’s lax knowledge insurance policies and rushed offboarding, arguing the lawsuit seeks to curb competitors quite than tackle real theft. Supply: Reuters by way of X
OpenAI has additionally criticized Apple’s data-security practices, together with its dealing with of worker entry to cloud companies after employees depart the corporate.
The AI firm contends that Apple’s insurance policies made it doable for former workers to retain entry to firm data and that the circumstances don’t display an effort by OpenAI to acquire confidential know-how.
OpenAI has requested the courtroom to considerably slender Apple’s requested injunction, warning that broad restrictions might intervene with workers’ capacity to maneuver between know-how firms. It has additionally argued that Apple’s lawsuit might discourage employees from becoming a member of rivals.
Extra Than 400 Former Apple Staff at OpenAI
The dispute has attracted consideration partly due to the dimensions of worker motion between the 2 firms.
Apple’s lawsuit identifies Liu and former Apple govt Tang Yew Tan as central figures in its allegations. The AI firm has employed roughly 400 former Apple workers, in line with courtroom filings and reporting on the case.
Apple argues that its considerations are linked to OpenAI’s increasing ambitions in shopper {hardware}. The corporate has accused OpenAI and the previous workers of misappropriating data referring to {hardware} design, manufacturing, and provide chain operations.
OpenAI, in the meantime, maintains that hiring Apple’s former workers is lawful and says the staff didn’t carry Apple’s confidential know-how into their new roles.
The disagreement highlights a tough subject for know-how firms: workers typically carry information and expertise from earlier jobs, however trade-secret regulation locations limits on the use or disclosure of genuinely confidential enterprise data.
Apple-OpenAI Lawsuit Expands Past Software program
The case represents a major shift within the relationship between Apple and OpenAI, which beforehand labored collectively on integrating ChatGPT into Apple’s ecosystem.
Their relationship has change into extra aggressive as OpenAI expands past AI software program and into shopper {hardware}. The corporate’s acquisition of io Merchandise, the {hardware} firm based by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, has additional elevated the businesses’ overlap.
Apple’s lawsuit, filed in July 2026 in federal courtroom in California, alleges that the AI firm benefited from confidential data supplied by former Apple workers. Apple has sought financial damages in addition to restrictions stopping the AI firm from utilizing the disputed data.
In August, Apple individually requested the courtroom for a preliminary injunction that will prohibit OpenAI’s use of the alleged commerce secrets and techniques whereas the case proceeds. The corporate opposed that request and argued that Apple had not established the premise for such extraordinary aid.
What Occurs Subsequent
The rapid subject is whether or not Apple’s request for expedited discovery and preliminary aid might be granted.
A federal decide is scheduled to listen to arguments on Apple’s preliminary-injunction request on October 1. The proceedings might decide how broadly the courtroom permits Apple to research OpenAI’s {hardware} operations, former Apple workers, and the dealing with of probably related proof.
For Apple, the newly examined MacBook supplies extra materials for its declare that confidential data was accessed and doubtlessly used after Liu joined the AI firm. For OpenAI, the central argument stays that Apple has not demonstrated that protected commerce secrets and techniques had been truly misappropriated and used to develop its merchandise.
The courtroom has not dominated on the deserves of these competing claims. Till it does, the allegations regarding Liu, OpenAI’s dealing with of proof, and the alleged use of Apple’s {hardware} data stay disputed.
The case is however changing into an vital take a look at of how trade-secret protections apply as AI firms recruit skilled engineers and develop into {hardware}. It additionally underscores the rising aggressive overlap between two firms that had been as soon as companions however at the moment are more and more positioned in opposition to one another within the subsequent technology of shopper know-how.
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