OpenAI accuses former employee of taking product plans to Apple

OpenAI filed a legal document Wednesday alleging that a former employee took more than a hundred confidential files before joining Apple and presented them to company management, including the vice president of Asia operations. According to the complaint, the files were sent to a personal account and later used as the basis for an internal Apple presentation.

The material includes images of at least one unannounced device, supplier information, engineering data, project files, cosmetic finish standards, and reports on coating and sealing of hardware components. OpenAI says the information constitutes trade secrets.

OpenAI draws a direct line between that presentation and Apple's announcements this week, among them the HomeView smart home display and other devices. The company claims the presentation took place months ago and that Apple, now armed with the information, is pushing forward AI-based products. Apple's product timelines are notably long, however, and the smart display has been the subject of rumors for years.

For its part, Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing confidential documents and spying on hardware prototypes to build its own product. OpenAI says it is "very concerned" that its trade secrets are now circulating inside Apple, where engineers could design future products based on the confidential work. Apple did not respond to a request for comment from The Verge.

The suit is part of an ongoing legal battle between the two companies over trade secrets, though this time OpenAI is the plaintiff. The filing was first reported by Reuters and adds to a series of mutual accusations that have yet to be resolved in court.