The 6 wildest claims in Apple’s lawsuit against OpenAI

Key Points:

• Apple has filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI and three former Apple employees—Tang Tan, Chang Liu, and Yu-Ting “Alyssa” Peng—of stealing confidential documents, spying on hardware prototypes, and misleading Apple partners to gain proprietary information for OpenAI’s upcoming AI hardware device.
• Chang Liu allegedly retained an Apple-owned computer after leaving the company, exploited a security vulnerability to access Apple’s cloud storage, and downloaded dozens of confidential files including technical specifications and unreleased product details.
• Yu-Ting Peng is accused of continuously providing Liu with confidential Apple information after leaving, while Liu reportedly coached Peng on bypassing Apple’s security and accessing sensitive project folders, aiding OpenAI’s hardware development.
• Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer and former Apple Watch VP, allegedly solicited Apple trade secrets during OpenAI job interviews, requesting candidates bring unreleased Apple components and product samples for “show and tell” sessions and technical presentations.
• Apple claims OpenAI coached departing Apple employees on evading security measures during offboarding and misled Apple’s trusted manufacturing partners to gain access to proprietary metal-finishing techniques and other confidential manufacturing details, which OpenAI denies.