OpenAI has accused a former employee of taking more than 100 confidential files about its unreleased hardware back to Apple, in the latest twist of a trade secrets dispute between the two companies.
In a court filing submitted Wednesday, OpenAI said the unnamed employee, who joined from Apple before returning to the iPhone maker six months later, transferred sensitive documents to personal accounts before leaving. The files allegedly included detailed images of at least one unreleased OpenAI device, engineering and manufacturing data, supplier information, project files, specifications for cosmetic finishes, and reports on coating and sealing hardware components. Some transfers occurred just after midnight Singapore time on June 2, which OpenAI says was the employee's final day.
OpenAI also alleges the former employee presented its product plans to Apple's senior leadership, including its vice president of operations in Asia, months ago. The ChatGPT maker pointed to Apple's push into AI-powered hardware, including newly announced smart home products, as cause for concern.
“OpenAI is very concerned that its trade secret and confidential information is now circulating inside Apple, where Apple engineers can shape Apple's upcoming products based on OpenAI's confidential and innovative work,” the company told the court.
Apple said it has found nothing to support the claims and insists it has rules to prevent staff from bringing former employers' secrets into the company.
The filing comes months after Apple sued OpenAI and former employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan, alleging they took confidential engineering information to help the ChatGPT maker develop its own hardware. OpenAI denied those accusations at the time, saying: “We have no interest in other companies' trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”
OpenAI has yet to establish that Apple received or used any of the allegedly taken material. It has asked the court for time to investigate and potentially bring counterclaims, though none have been filed to date.