Apple Unveils ‘Compelling Evidence’ Against Ex-Employee Accused of Data Theft for OpenAI

In its lawsuit against OpenAI, Apple has presented what it calls “concerning evidence” that supports its claims that certain former employees misappropriated trade secrets to benefit OpenAI. This new information emerged following the examination of a work laptop from Chang Liu, a former Apple employee now at OpenAI, provided by his legal team earlier this month.

Apple alleges that Liu used a proprietary circuit schematic from its archives while working at OpenAI, along with a tool named after an internal engineering application at Apple. The company asserts that OpenAI was “fully aware” of Liu’s access to sensitive information and that Liu sought the help of his OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to destroy evidence in June when he found out Apple was investigating him.

“The MacBook illustrates the limited information that the Defendants have shared thus far (and only after considerable delays), indicating that Apple is not engaging in ‘fishing expeditions’ but that its trade secrets are indeed being utilized and evidence is being obliterated,” the legal filing states.

While this new evidence remains redacted from public disclosure, prior filings from Apple have shown text messages from Liu—frequently laced with “crying laughing” emojis—suggesting he was conscious of his continued access to Apple files.

OpenAI has previously defended Liu, asserting that he accessed Apple files exclusively after his departure to aid former colleagues in need. “Apple is attempting to refocus on ‘residual access,’ but they fail to recognize that this issue is widespread at Apple, resulting from their inadequate management of system access when employees leave,” OpenAI mentioned in a blog post earlier this month.

On the other hand, Apple maintains that Liu retained access by “exploiting a rare, previously unidentified authentication flaw.”

TechCrunch has contacted OpenAI for their comments regarding Apple’s recent accusations.

Apple is seeking a preliminary injunction—a court order that would bar OpenAI from developing hardware based on Apple’s technology during the ongoing legal battle—and expedited discovery, a swift process for collecting evidence, as the company fears other former employees could also be implicated.

According to Apple’s initial legal filings, over 400 former employees from Apple are currently working at OpenAI.