OpenAI has initiated legal action against a former employee, alleging the unauthorized transfer of over 100 proprietary files. The company claims these documents, which included product roadmaps and engineering data, were sent to a personal account before the individual joined Apple.
According to the filing, the former staff member presented this sensitive information to Apple leadership, specifically mentioning the vice president of operations in Asia. OpenAI asserts that the files contained details on unreleased hardware, supplier lists, and technical specifications for component sealing and coating.
OpenAI links these actions to Apple’s recent product announcements, including the HomeView smart display. The company argues that Apple is leveraging this misappropriated data to accelerate its own AI-enabled hardware strategy, expressing concern that its trade secrets are now circulating within Apple’s engineering teams.
The legal dispute is currently reciprocal, as Apple has previously accused OpenAI of spying on its hardware prototypes and stealing confidential documents to support its own product development. Apple has not yet provided a formal response to these latest allegations.
