100 Files to Apple: OpenAI's New Trade-Secret Claim

More than 100 highly confidential files. That is what OpenAI says a former employee sent to personal accounts about an unreleased OpenAI device, before the same person returned to Apple.

The claim is an allegation in a US court filing, not a proven fact. Apple says it has found no evidence to support it. Still, the numbers and the timing are why the dispute jumped back into the headlines this week.

Quick answer

• OpenAI alleges a former employee who had been at Apple, worked at OpenAI for six months, then returned to Apple, sent more than 100 (or over a hundred) highly confidential device files to personal accounts.
• The last transfer, OpenAI says, was on June 2, 2026, the employee's final day; files allegedly included images, engineering and manufacturing data, supplier information, cosmetic finish standards and coating and sealing reports.
• OpenAI also alleges a presentation to Apple senior leadership, including the vice president of operations in Asia, months ago, and links that to Apple's HomeView push.
• Apple says policies are in place, it has found no evidence, and it will remediate if any OpenAI information is found; it called the filing a distraction from Apple's own July trade-secret suit against OpenAI.

What OpenAI alleges

The Indian Express, The Hindu, CNN, 9to5Mac and The Guardian all describe the same core claim.

An OpenAI employee who left for Apple allegedly sent more than 100 files about an unreleased product to a personal account and later made a presentation about that product to senior Apple leadership.

CNN adds that the employee had previously worked at Apple, joined OpenAI for six months, then went back to Apple. 9to5Mac quotes OpenAI's filing as saying the person "sent over a hundred highly confidential files about at least one unreleased OpenAI device under development to his personal accounts."

CNN says the last file was sent in June on the employee's final day. 9to5Mac is more specific: the files were sent on June 2, 2026, the final day at the company.

OpenAI did not name the employee in the coverage summarised here. Treat every detail as alleged until a court rules otherwise.

What was in the files, according to the filing

Comparison of more than 100 files OpenAI alleges were transferred versus more than 400 former Apple employees Apple says OpenAI hired

Source: CNN / The Indian Express

9to5Mac lists the alleged contents in detail. The files, OpenAI says, include detailed images of the unreleased device or devices, plus highly confidential engineering and manufacturing data. They also allegedly include supplier information and project files, standards for cosmetic finishes, and reports regarding coating and sealing of hardware components.

CNN separately describes "detailed images of the unreleased device(s), as well as highly confidential engineering and manufacturing data about the device(s)."

That inventory is why OpenAI frames the transfer as a trade-secret problem, not a routine offboarding mishap. Again: these are OpenAI's allegations in a filing.

The alleged Apple presentation and HomeView

OpenAI claims the former employee "made a presentation about OpenAI's product plans to Apple's senior leadership, including Apple's vice president of operations in Asia," CNN and 9to5Mac report.

"That presentation appears to have happened months ago—and now, armed with that information, Apple is making a new push into AI-enabled products," OpenAI wrote, according to those outlets.

The Indian Express and The Hindu note that OpenAI tied the timing to Apple's HomeView product release this week. OpenAI said in its filing that it is "very concerned that its trade secret and confidential information is now circulating inside Apple, where Apple engineers can shape Apple's upcoming products based on OpenAI's confidential and innovative work."

CNN adds context on both sides' hardware races. Apple announced HomeView as a smart-home push with a revamped Siri. OpenAI is working on an AI-enabled device reported as a small screen-free smart speaker, and last year brought on former Apple product design chief Jonny Ive and his company, io, for design and creative work.

Apple's response

Apple's reply, as carried by CNN, The Indian Express, The Hindu and 9to5Mac, is consistent.

It says it has policies and procedures so new employees do not use confidential information from previous employers. It says it has found no evidence to support OpenAI's allegations. CNN reports Apple also said it would work with OpenAI to remediate any of OpenAI's information found on Apple's systems.

CNN further reports that Apple accused OpenAI of trying to create a distraction from the original claims in the case.

How this sits inside Apple's July lawsuit

The new document is not a fresh standalone case. It is part of the ongoing trade-secret dispute Apple filed in July, alleging OpenAI stole Apple trade secrets for its hardware work. OpenAI has denied those claims.

CNN says Apple's original filing alleged that former employees who went to OpenAI downloaded confidential files and urged job candidates to bring Apple parts to interviews at OpenAI. OpenAI has sought to dismiss the case and says Apple has not identified stolen trade secrets, according to CNN.

The Guardian notes that the two companies were due to face off in court on Wednesday, but the new allegation delayed that showdown, and that OpenAI said it may file a countersuit based on the new claim.

CNN also reports Apple's court filing claim that OpenAI has hired more than 400 of its former employees. That figure sits next to OpenAI's "more than 100 files" allegation as a reminder of how deep the talent crossover already is.

Judge Edward Davila and the trial calendar

Earlier this week, US District Court Judge Edward Davila granted part of Apple's request for early access to digital files from OpenAI, The Indian Express, The Hindu and The Guardian report.

Davila said Apple could gather data from some of its former employees' devices and sit three of them for depositions on a sped-up schedule, including the two defendants in the case: Chang Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer, and Tang Yew Tan, a former vice president of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch.

The case is likely to go to trial in October 2027, though OpenAI has said in court filings that it could be ready for trial as soon as June 2027.

What readers should keep straight

• Allegations, not verdicts. OpenAI's filing makes serious claims. Apple denies evidence of wrongdoing so far.
• Two-way fight. Apple sued first in July; OpenAI's new claim arrives inside that case and may become a countersuit.
• Numbers that are sourced. More than 100 files alleged; six months at OpenAI alleged; more than 400 ex-Apple hires claimed by Apple; trial aimed at October 2027 or possibly June 2027.
• Hardware stakes. Both companies are pushing AI devices, which is why a file-and-presentation allegation lands with such force.

Indian readers will not see a local court order from this San Jose case tomorrow. They will see the same talent wars and hardware secrecy fights when global AI firms hire across Apple and OpenAI alumni networks.

FAQs

Did a court find that Apple stole OpenAI's device secrets? No. OpenAI has alleged a file transfer and a presentation. Apple says it found no evidence and has policies against using prior employers' confidential information.

How many files are alleged? OpenAI alleges more than 100, or over a hundred, highly confidential files about an unreleased device. CNN and 9to5Mac also use "over 100" / "over a hundred" wording.

Who are Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan? Defendants in Apple's suit against OpenAI. Judge Edward Davila ordered sped-up depositions that include them, per The Indian Express, The Hindu and The Guardian.

When could this go to trial? Reports say the case is likely headed to trial in October 2027; OpenAI has said it could be ready as soon as June 2027.

Should big tech keep poaching each other's hardware talent if the lawsuits keep piling up? Share your take in the comments.

This article summarises allegations and responses as reported by the publications below. The claims have not been proven in court.

Sources

• The Indian Express: OpenAI employee who left for Apple took files about unreleased device, OpenAI alleges
• The Hindu: OpenAI employee who left for Apple took files about unreleased device, OpenAI alleges
• CNN: OpenAI accuses former employee of leaking intel on AI device to Apple
• 9to5Mac: OpenAI alleges ex-employee took 'highly confidential' device files to Apple
• The Guardian: OpenAI accuses employee who left for Apple of leaking plans for unreleased device