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In an intriguing legal clash, Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging serious misconduct during job interviews. According to the suit, employees from Apple who interviewed at OpenAI were reportedly asked to bring along confidential project components and unreleased product samples. This suit charges OpenAI with stealing sensitive documents, covertly collecting data on Apple’s hardware prototypes, and deceiving at least one of Apple’s trusted partners into revealing proprietary design techniques.
The lawsuit concentrates on the alleged actions of three former Apple employees:
- **Tang Tan**: A 24-year veteran of Apple and former vice president of the Apple Watch, Tan transitioned to Jony Ive’s hardware firm, io, which OpenAI acquired. Following the acquisition, he was installed as OpenAI’s chief hardware officer.
- **Chang Liu**: Liu spent over eight years at Apple as a systems electrical engineer for the iPhone and joined OpenAI's technical staff in early 2026.
- **Yu-Ting “Alyssa” Peng**: She also left Apple for OpenAI in April 2026.
Apple claims these individuals have been involved in a scheme to misappropriate trade secrets as OpenAI gears up for the upcoming launch of its first AI hardware device in 2025.
The lawsuit reveals several shocking allegations. Liu is accused of retaining an Apple-owned computer that allowed him to download numerous confidential files. After announcing his departure from Apple, Liu allegedly avoided signing a confidentiality reminder, scheduling an exit interview, or confirming the return of Apple property. As per the lawsuit, he failed to return at least one Apple device and informed Peng that he possessed another computer.
Additionally, Liu reportedly accessed Apple’s cloud storage weeks after leaving, exploiting an authentication issue unknown to Apple. In a statement from Apple, Liu is said to have expressed amusement at his discovery and celebrated it with Peng, who allegedly responded by indicating her readiness to exploit this access.
Liu is also accused of downloading a range of sensitive documents, from technical specifications to engineering presentations, which potentially gives OpenAI insights into Apple’s unreleased projects.
The suit alleges that Peng shared confidential updates about Apple’s projects and vendor relationships with Liu after his exit. This supposed collaboration persisted while Liu contributed to creating hardware to rival Apple’s products, as Liu reportedly directed Peng on retrieving files from Apple devices while advising her on avoiding security red flags.
Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that Tan solicited Apple’s trade secrets during job interviews with potential recruits, testing their knowledge about top-secret Apple projects. Liu allegedly assisted Peng by downloading information to help her prepare for her interview with OpenAI and shared insights on Apple's confidential work.
Moreover, Tan reportedly asked candidates to showcase Apple hardware components during interview sessions, as indicated by messages from an Apple-issued device. He encouraged interviewees to conduct “Technical Deep Dive” presentations that risked revealing classified information from their time at Apple.
Additional accusations include OpenAI coaching former Apple staff on how to circumvent security protocols related to their transition. According to the lawsuit, Tan retained an internal document regarding employee exit procedures, which OpenAI allegedly used to inform new employees about potential security checks and advised them on how to avoid being immediately removed from the company.
Apple claims this has led to a notable increase in employees leaving for OpenAI while attempting to bypass security protocols. The company has observed an alarming trend of ex-employees neglecting outreach from security personnel and failing to complete mandatory exit processes.
Moreover, Apple accuses OpenAI of utilizing its proprietary metal-finishing technique by misleading an Apple partner into believing they had permission to employ this confidential process. Apple asserts that it never authorized OpenAI to use its trade secrets or confidential information associated with this partner.
Apple also claims OpenAI reached out to additional suppliers involved in manufacturing power and battery components, utilizing sensitive internal information to pose “targeted questions” beneficial to its hardware development.
In response to the allegations, OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri stated to The Verge: “We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We are committed to advancing innovative technology that benefits people everywhere.”
