OpenAI Accuses Ex-Employee of Passing Product Plans to Apple

OpenAI, the US artificial intelligence company, said in a document filed on Wednesday that a former employee took more than 100 files related to its product plans before joining the technology giant Apple. The filing is part of a legal battle between the two companies over trade secrets, but this time OpenAI is the one making the accusations. Reuters reported on the filing first.

What OpenAI alleges

OpenAI says the unnamed employee sent the information to a personal account and then presented it to Apple leadership, including the vice president of the company's operations in Asia. According to OpenAI, the files include images of at least one unreleased device, supplier information, engineering data, project files, standards for cosmetic finishes, and reports on the coating and sealing of hardware components.

OpenAI also ties the presentation to Apple's new HomeView smart display and other devices the company revealed this week. The filing says the presentation appears to have taken place months ago and that Apple, armed with that information, is now making a new push into AI-enabled products. OpenAI cites an article and a company announcement about Apple's new releases.

Apple's side

Apple's product plans typically run on a very long timeline, and its smart display has been rumored for years. Apple, for its part, has accused OpenAI of stealing confidential documents and spying on hardware prototypes to help build its own products.

OpenAI says it is very concerned that its trade secrets and confidential information are now circulating inside Apple, where engineers could shape upcoming products based on OpenAI's work. Apple did not immediately respond to The Verge's request for comment.