OpenAI claims ex-employee brought confidential docs about unreleased device to Apple

Sam Altman’s OpenAI obtained evidence that a former employee brought more than 100 confidential files about an unreleased device with him upon joining Apple, according to a bombshell filing Wednesday in the trade secret theft case between the two tech giants.The ChatGPT maker said the alleged theft by an unnamed ex-employee was discovered during a “recent and ongoing forensic investigation” related to the lawsuit.Apple first sued OpenAI and two former employees in July, accusing them of stealing its trade secrets, including “dozens of Apple’s confidential hardware-related files.”In its filing, OpenAI alleged that its ex-employee “sent over a hundred highly confidential files about at least one unreleased OpenAI device under development to his personal accounts.” The allegedly stolen files included files with “detailed images” and “highly confidential engineering and manufacturing data about the device(s).”“Some of those files were sent just after midnight in Singapore on June 2, 2026 — the former employee’s final day at OpenAI,” the filing said.

“Further, it is OpenAI’s understanding that the former employee made a presentation about OpenAI’s product plans to Apple’s senior leadership, including Apple’s vice president of operations in Asia.”The employee in question, who previously worked at Apple, joined OpenAI for a period of six months before ultimately returning to Apple, according to the filing.OpenAI claims that the documents aided Apple’s “new push into AI-enabled products” — and specifically referenced this week’s launch of the “Apple Home” line of smart home accessories.OpenAI said it approached Apple about the incident but has not received “requested assurances” that the company, led by CEO John Ternus, is not in possession of or made use of the documents.“OpenAI is very concerned that its trade secret and confidential information is now circulating inside Apple, where Apple engineers can sha...