Apple has filed a blockbuster lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the AI startup of systematically stealing confidential documents, spying on hardware prototypes, and tricking a trusted partner into using a proprietary product design technique. The 41-page complaint, filed in a California court, details an alleged scheme that began when three former Apple employees joined OpenAI and continued through coordinated efforts to extract trade secrets. Here are the six most startling claims from Apple’s legal filing.
1. A former Apple engineer accessed internal storage after leaving
After announcing his departure in early 2026, Chang Liu—a former systems electrical engineer who worked on the iPhone for over eight years—allegedly failed to return at least one Apple-owned computer. According to the lawsuit, Liu did not respond to requests to sign a confidentiality reminder, schedule an exit interview, or confirm return of company devices. Weeks after leaving, Liu reportedly discovered he could still access Apple’s cloud-based network storage through an authentication vulnerability. The complaint quotes Liu messaging a colleague: “LOL, I found out I can access the [network storage], so funny.” The colleague, Yu-Ting “Alyssa” Peng, replied “I’m ready.” Apple claims Liu then downloaded dozens of confidential files containing technical specifications, unreleased product details, and engineering presentations—including one detailing the manufacturing and testing of Apple’s main logic boards.
2. A remaining insider fed secrets to her former colleague
Apple accuses Peng of acting as an internal source for Liu after his departure. While Peng continued working at Apple, the lawsuit alleges she regularly shared information about ongoing projects, engineering details, and vendor relationships with Liu. “Mr. Liu’s work for OpenAI was informed by a steadily flowing stream of Apple’s trade secret information from Ms. Peng,” the filing states. Peng also allegedly received instructions from Liu on how to access and copy files from Apple’s devices “to avoid trouble with the security team,” along with pointers to specific project folders and proprietary engineering data. Peng eventually left Apple for OpenAI in April 2026.
3. Job interviews featured ‘show and tell’ with Apple hardware
Perhaps the most brazen claim involves Tang Tan, the 24-year Apple veteran who previously served as vice president of the Apple Watch. After leaving Apple in 2024, Tan became chief hardware officer at OpenAI. The lawsuit alleges that Tan asked job candidates from Apple to bring unreleased hardware components and product samples to interviews. Messages left on an Apple-issued work device quote Tan instructing an employee to “bring some parts [she] worked on” such as “Batteries,” “SIP” (Systems-in-Package), “mlb” (multi-layer or main logic boards), and “shields,” adding that it may “be good to show” other interviewers. Candidates were also asked to prepare “Technical Deep Dive” presentations containing confidential information from their work at Apple. In one instance, a former employee began screenshotting files about a highly confidential Apple project before an interview, and Tan asked for more details during the meeting.
4. OpenAI allegedly coached employees on evading security checks
Apple claims OpenAI maintained an internal document outlining Apple’s employee offboarding procedures, obtained through Tan. The AI startup then allegedly used this document to warn incoming Apple employees about security measures and “coach” them on how to bypass them. Tips included not disclosing their new employer, avoiding the “dreaded walk out” that would result in immediate removal from Apple’s systems, and not signing anything at the exit interview. The lawsuit states that these tactics are having an effect: Apple has noticed a trend of employees leaving for OpenAI who ignore outreach by security personnel and fail to complete standard exit processes.
5. A proprietary metal-finishing technique was stolen
Apple accuses OpenAI of using confidential information to approach one of Apple’s trusted manufacturing partners—a company that performs a unique, multi-step metal-finishing technique for Apple products. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI misled this partner into believing it had Apple’s permission to use the technique. “Apple has not given OpenAI or io permission to use or a license to any of Apple’s trade secrets or confidential information, including those it has entrusted with this partner,” the filing states. This metal-finishing process is said to be crucial to Apple’s product aesthetics and has been closely guarded for years.
6. OpenAI approached suppliers using Apple’s internal codenames
In addition to the metal-finishing partner, Apple claims OpenAI approached at least one other supplier that works with Apple on power and battery components. Using confidential information and internal codenames, OpenAI allegedly asked “targeted questions” about Apple’s components that would be useful in furthering its hardware ambitions. The lawsuit suggests this pattern demonstrates a systematic effort to reverse-engineer Apple’s supply chain and product design. OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri provided a statement: “We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”
The lawsuit marks an escalation in tensions between the two tech giants, both competing in the AI hardware space. Apple’s legal action seeks undisclosed damages and an injunction to prevent further misuse of its trade secrets. As the case unfolds, it will likely shed more light on the lengths to which companies go to gain a competitive edge in the race to build the next generation of AI devices.
Source:The Verge News