Apple just revealed it has uncovered evidence that more of its ex-employees may have been involved in sharing confidential information with OpenAI. In a new court filing, the company says at least 11 additional former workers could be connected to the case, beyond the two already named. Some allegedly met to discuss Apple’s unannounced products before joining OpenAI, while others took screenshots of internal documents or kept company devices after leaving.
Apple is asking the court to speed up its investigation, arguing that the scope of the problem may be larger than initially thought. The company wants a preliminary injunction to stop OpenAI from using any of its technology in new devices or products. It also notes that after filing its original complaint, several former employees now at OpenAI reached out about returning Apple-issued devices, hinting at broader involvement.
OpenAI has pushed back hard, calling Apple’s request for an injunction unnecessary and based on false claims. The company says it has no interest in Apple’s trade secrets and points to Apple’s own mistakes, like emailing the wrong person due to a name mix-up and failing to admit its own security lapses may have allowed residual access to systems.
Apple and OpenAI are two of the biggest names in tech, and their rivalry just got more personal. Apple has long guarded its product plans and proprietary technology closely, while OpenAI is racing to build advanced AI systems and hardware. The case centers on whether former Apple employees improperly shared or used confidential information to benefit OpenAI’s work, particularly around hardware development.
This fight matters because it touches on how companies protect their ideas and how employees move between rivals in the fast-growing AI industry. If Apple’s claims hold up, it could set a precedent for how trade secrets are handled in tech. But if OpenAI’s defenses succeed, it may embolden other companies to poach talent without fear of legal fallout. The case also raises questions about how well big tech secures its data when employees leave.
What happens next depends on the court’s decision on Apple’s requests for expedited discovery and a preliminary injunction. The judge will weigh whether Apple has shown enough evidence to justify immediate action and whether OpenAI’s denials hold water. Watch for more filings as both sides dig in.
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Filed under: Apple, OpenAI, TradeSecrets, TechLawsuit, AIRivalry