OpenAI alleges ex-employee took secrets on unreleased devices before rejoining Apple

OpenAI has alleged that a former employee who joined Apple after leaving the artificial intelligence company sent more than 100 highly confidential files related to unreleased OpenAI devices to personal accounts, according to a court filing.

The filing, submitted on Wednesday in a US federal court in California, said the files included detailed images of unreleased devices, engineering and manufacturing data, supplier information and documents on hardware finishes, coatings and sealing.

The employee, who joined OpenAI from Apple, worked at the AI company for six months before returning to Apple, OpenAI said in the filing.

Some of the files were sent just after midnight in Singapore on June 2, 2026, the employee's final day at OpenAI, the company said.

OpenAI also said it understood that the former employee had made a presentation on its product plans to Apple's senior leadership, including the company's vice president of operations in Asia, months earlier.

"OpenAI is very concerned that its trade secret and confidential information is now circulating inside Apple," the filing said, expressing concern that Apple engineers could use the information to shape the company's upcoming products.

OpenAI said it had raised the matter directly with Apple but had not received assurances that Apple did not possess or use its confidential information and trade secrets.

The company asked the court to allow it to investigate the alleged conduct and, if necessary, pursue counterclaims in the ongoing lawsuit.

The dispute comes as Apple expands its push into artificial intelligence-enabled products, including smart-home devices featuring its Siri assistant.

On October 13, Apple refreshed its lineup of smart home products with the Apple HomeView, HomePod mini 2, and fourth-generation Apple TV 4K.