Apple's Accusations Against OpenAI: A Deep Dive into the Trade Secret Lawsuit
Unveiling the Controversial Claims in the Apple-OpenAI Legal Battle
Unusual Interview Requests by OpenAI's Hardware Leadership
Apple's recent 41-page legal filing against OpenAI outlines a series of audacious claims, central among them being the accusation that OpenAI's hardware head, Tang Tan, actively sought confidential information from prospective employees during job interviews. The lawsuit alleges that Tan requested applicants to bring components they were developing and even unreleased product prototypes from their previous roles at Apple, framing these requests as 'show and tell' sessions.
Key Individuals at the Heart of the Dispute
The legal action largely centers on the alleged conduct of three former Apple employees now at OpenAI: Tang Tan, a former Apple Watch Vice President who became OpenAI's Chief Hardware Officer; Chang Liu, an ex-iPhone systems electrical engineer; and Yu-Ting 'Alyssa' Peng, who also joined OpenAI in April 2026. Apple contends these individuals are part of a coordinated effort to pilfer the company's proprietary secrets as OpenAI ventures into the AI hardware market.
Former Employee Accused of Retaining Apple-Owned Devices and Data Theft
According to Apple's complaint, Chang Liu, after his announced departure, reportedly ignored requests to return company equipment or engage in an exit interview. It is alleged that Liu deliberately withheld an Apple-owned computer, boasting about it to Peng. Furthermore, Apple claims Liu exploited a network vulnerability to access its cloud storage weeks after leaving, downloading numerous confidential documents including technical specifications, unreleased product details, and engineering presentations on logic board manufacturing.
Accusations of Siphoning Confidential Information
The lawsuit further implicates Peng in a scheme to feed confidential Apple information to Liu. Apple alleges that Peng routinely updated Liu on Apple's projects, engineering specifics, and supplier relationships, enabling Liu to leverage this data for OpenAI's competing hardware initiatives. It is also claimed that Liu instructed Peng on methods to bypass Apple's security measures for data extraction and directed her to specific proprietary project folders.
OpenAI's Hardware Head Allegedly Probed for Apple's Secrets in Interviews
Apple maintains that Tang Tan used job interviews as a means to extract trade secrets, actively questioning candidates about sensitive Apple projects. The lawsuit cites instances where Liu allegedly assisted Peng in preparing for her OpenAI interview by providing 'some info' on a highly confidential Apple project, accessed via his unauthorized network access. This echoes a previous admission by Tan regarding his receipt of confidential information from another AI hardware startup before joining Jony Ive's io, which was later acquired by OpenAI.
Requests for Proprietary Samples and Presentations
Beyond verbal inquiries, Tan is accused of instructing former Apple employees to bring physical hardware components and product prototypes for 'show and tell' during interviews. Messages from an Apple-issued device reportedly show Tan requesting specific parts like batteries, Systems-in-Package (SIP), main logic boards (MLB), and shields. Additionally, OpenAI allegedly encouraged interviewees to prepare 'Technical Deep Dive' presentations that contained confidential Apple information.
Alleged Coaching on Evading Apple's Security Protocols
The complaint suggests OpenAI possessed an internal document detailing Apple's employee offboarding procedures. This knowledge was purportedly used to 'coach' former Apple staff on how to circumvent Apple's security checks, including advice not to disclose their new employer and how to avoid immediate termination that would block access to Apple's systems. Apple states it has observed a recent pattern of employees attempting to evade security measures when transitioning to OpenAI.
Accusations of Stealing Metal-Finishing Techniques
Apple also accuses OpenAI of leveraging its confidential information to approach Apple's trusted manufacturing partners. Specifically, OpenAI allegedly misled a partner responsible for a proprietary metal-finishing technique into believing it had Apple's consent to use this method. Apple explicitly denies granting any such permission or license for its trade secrets to OpenAI or io. The lawsuit also claims OpenAI engaged other Apple suppliers, using internal codenames to glean targeted information about Apple's power and battery components, further advancing OpenAI's hardware ambitions.