{"id":799739,"date":"2026-07-13T19:40:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T19:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/799739\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T19:40:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T19:40:09","slug":"the-6-wildest-claims-in-apples-lawsuit-against-openai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/799739\/","title":{"rendered":"The 6 wildest claims in Apple\u2019s lawsuit against OpenAI"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Apple employees interviewed for jobs at OpenAI, the AI startup\u2019s hardware head allegedly asked them to show up with something unusual: components they were working on and unreleased product samples. That\u2019s according to a blockbuster lawsuit<\/a> filed by Apple, which accuses OpenAI of stealing confidential documents<\/a>, spying on hardware prototypes, and tricking one of its trusted partners into performing a proprietary product design technique.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit primarily revolves around the alleged actions of three people:<\/p>\n

Tang Tan, a 24-year Apple veteran who recently served as the vice president of the Apple Watch. In 2024, Tan left to work on Jony Ive\u2019s hardware company, io, which was acquired by OpenAI last year<\/a>. OpenAI then appointed Tan as chief hardware officer. Chang Liu: A former Apple employee who worked as a systems electrical engineer on the iPhone for over eight years. Liu joined OpenAI in January 2026 as a member of technical staff. Yu-Ting \u201cAlyssa\u201d Peng: A former Apple employee who joined OpenAI in April 2026.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re accused of being part of an ongoing scheme to steal Apple\u2019s secrets as OpenAI plans its first AI hardware device, which is supposed to be coming next year.<\/p>\n

Here are the most surprising claims in Apple\u2019s 41-page filing.<\/p>\n

Liu allegedly kept an Apple-owned computer, allowing him to download dozens of confidential files<\/p>\n

After announcing plans to leave Apple, Liu allegedly didn\u2019t respond to requests to sign a confidentiality reminder, schedule an exit interview, or confirm that he returned company-owned devices, as is standard with departures at Apple. Instead, Apple claims Liu \u201cfailed to return at least one Apple-owned computer,\u201d and told another employee, Peng, that he still has \u201canother computer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Liu also allegedly accessed Apple\u2019s cloud-based network storage weeks after he left the company, using an authentication vulnerability that Apple didn\u2019t know about. \u201cMr. Liu celebrated his find with Ms. Peng and set about exploiting it: \u2018LOL, I found out I can access the [network storage], so funny,\u2019\u201d Apple claims. \u201cMs. Peng\u2019s response was immediate: \u201c\u2018I\u2019m ready.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Apple accuses Liu of downloading dozens of confidential files from its storage system, including documents containing technical specifications, details about unreleased products, and engineering presentations, including one detailing the manufacturing and testing of Apple\u2019s main logic boards.<\/p>\n

Peng is accused of siphoning confidential Apple information to Liu<\/p>\n

In the months following Liu\u2019s departure, Peng allegedly kept Liu in the loop about Apple\u2019s projects, engineering details, and vendor relationships. \u201cMs. Peng and Mr. Liu would engage in depth about those confidential projects, while Mr. Liu was working on developing OpenAI\u2019s competing hardware,\u201d Apple claims. \u201cMr. Liu\u2019s work for OpenAI was informed by a steadily flowing stream of Apple\u2019s trade secret information from Ms. Peng.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apple also claims that Liu informed Peng on how to access and copy files from Apple\u2019s devices \u201cto avoid trouble with the security team,\u201d while pointing her to \u201cspecific Apple project folders and proprietary engineering data.\u201d Peng departed Apple for OpenAI in April 2026.<\/p>\n

OpenAI\u2019s hardware head allegedly digs for confidential Apple projects during interviews<\/p>\n

Tan is accused of soliciting Apple\u2019s trade secrets during interviews with OpenAI job candidates \u2014 and quizzing them on it. Apple claims Liu told Peng about how another former Apple employee \u201cfumbled\u201d his answers to a question Tan asked about \u201ca top-secret project for an unreleased new Apple product.\u201d Liu then allegedly downloaded \u201csome info\u201d using his access to Apple\u2019s network to help Peng prepare for her interview.<\/p>\n

In another instance, Apple claims another former employee began \u201cscreenshotting and downloading files relating to a highly confidential Apple project\u201d before an interview with OpenAI. Tan is accused of asking for more information about that same project during the interview. Last year, Tan admitted to receiving<\/a> confidential information about an AI hardware startup before joining Ive\u2019s io.<\/p>\n

Tan asks former Apple employees to share parts and product samples for \u201cshow and tell\u201d<\/p>\n

Aside from asking for more information about Apple\u2019s secret projects, Tan is accused of telling interviewees to bring hardware components and product samples from their work at Apple for \u201cshow and tell sessions.\u201d<\/p>\n

For example, messages left on an Apple-issued work device show that Mr. Tan instructed an Apple employee to \u201cbring some parts [she] worked on\u201d such as \u201cBatteries,\u201d \u201cSIP\u201d (Systems-in-Package), \u201cmlb\u201d (multi-layer or main logic boards), and \u201cshields\u201d and that it may \u201cbe good to show\u201d other interviewers these Apple components.<\/p>\n

Additionally, OpenAI is accused of asking interviewees to prepare \u201cTechnical Deep Dive\u201d presentations, with slides revealing confidential information from their work at Apple.<\/p>\n

OpenAI allegedly \u201ccoached\u201d Apple employees on how to bypass security measures<\/p>\n

Apple claims Tan kept an internal document that outlines employee offboarding procedures. OpenAI allegedly used this information to warn employees coming from Apple about the company\u2019s security checks and \u201ccoached\u201d them on how to avoid it.<\/p>\n

The AI giant also advised departing Apple workers not to disclose their new employer and also offered tips on how to avoid a \u201cdreaded walk out,\u201d which would result in their immediate removal from the company, preventing them from accessing Apple\u2019s systems for a standard two weeks, the lawsuit alleges. OpenAI is accused of telling Apple employees not to \u201csign anything at the exit interview,\u201d and if they\u2019re asked to sign a document, to tell OpenAI \u201casap.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the lawsuit, Apple says that OpenAI\u2019s alleged tactics \u201cappear to be having their desired effect.\u201d Apple claims it has noticed \u201ca recent trend of employees who are leaving Apple for OpenAI and taking steps to evade security measures,\u201d including workers \u201cignoring outreach by security personnel to schedule exit processes and security reviews.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing its metal-finishing technique<\/p>\n

Apple claims OpenAI has used its confidential information to approach its \u201ctrusted partners,\u201d including one that carries out a proprietary, multi-step metal-finishing technique for its products. OpenAI allegedly misled Apple\u2019s partner, making the company believe that OpenAI had Apple\u2019s permission to use the metal-finishing technique. \u201cApple has not given OpenAI or io permission to use or a license to any of Apple\u2019s trade secrets or confidential information, including those it has entrusted with this partner,\u201d Apple says.<\/p>\n

Apple also accuses OpenAI of approaching \u201cat least\u201d one other supplier that works with Apple on manufacturing related to power and batteries. OpenAI allegedly used confidential information and internal codenames to ask \u201ctargeted questions\u201d about Apple\u2019s components \u201cthat would be useful in furthering OpenAI\u2019s hardware ambitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri provided this statement to The Verge on Friday: \u201cWe have no interest in other companies\u2019 trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

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