Six Shocking Allegations in Apple’s Lawsuit Against OpenAI

When Apple employees interviewed for positions at OpenAI, the head of hardware at the AI startup reportedly requested something unexpected: the components they were working on and unreleased product samples. This revelation comes from a significant lawsuit filed by Apple, which accuses OpenAI of stealing confidential documents, spying on hardware prototypes, and deceiving a trusted partner into using a proprietary product design technique.

The lawsuit centers on the alleged actions of three individuals:

* Tang Tan, a 24-year Apple veteran who most recently served as vice president of the Apple Watch. In 2024, Tan transitioned to work with Jony Ive’s hardware company, io, which was acquired by OpenAI last year. Following this, OpenAI appointed Tan as chief hardware officer.
* Chang Liu: A former Apple employee who spent over eight years as a systems electrical engineer on the iPhone. Liu joined OpenAI in January 2026 as part of the technical staff.
* Yu-Ting “Alyssa” Peng: Another former Apple employee who became part of OpenAI in April 2026.

They are accused of participating in a scheme to steal Apple’s secrets as OpenAI gears up to launch its first AI hardware device, expected next year. Here are some of the most striking claims from Apple’s 41-page filing.

Liu allegedly retained an Apple-owned computer, which allowed him to download numerous confidential files. After announcing his departure from Apple, Liu reportedly ignored requests to sign a confidentiality reminder, schedule an exit interview, or confirm the return of company-owned devices, which is standard procedure at Apple. Instead, Apple claims Liu “failed to return at least one Apple-owned computer” and informed another employee, Peng, that he still possessed “another computer.”

Liu also allegedly accessed Apple’s cloud-based network storage weeks after leaving the company, exploiting an authentication vulnerability that Apple was unaware of. “Mr. Liu celebrated his find with Ms. Peng and set about exploiting it: ‘LOL, I found out I can access the [network storage], so funny,’” Apple claims. “Ms. Peng’s response was immediate: ‘I’m ready.’”

Apple accuses Liu of downloading numerous confidential files from its storage system, including documents with technical specifications, details about unreleased products, and engineering presentations, including one on the manufacturing and testing of Apple’s main logic boards.

Peng is accused of funneling confidential Apple information to Liu. In the months after Liu’s departure, Peng allegedly kept Liu informed about Apple’s projects, engineering details, and vendor relationships. “Ms. Peng and Mr. Liu would engage in depth about those confidential projects, while Mr. Liu was working on developing OpenAI’s competing hardware,” Apple claims. “Mr. Liu’s work for OpenAI was informed by a steadily flowing stream of Apple’s trade secret information from Ms. Peng.”

Apple also alleges that Liu guided Peng on how to access and copy files from Apple’s devices “to avoid trouble with the security team,” directing her to “specific Apple project folders and proprietary engineering data.” Peng left Apple for OpenAI in April 2026.

OpenAI’s hardware head is accused of probing for confidential Apple projects during interviews. Tan allegedly solicited Apple’s trade secrets from job candidates and quizzed them about it. Apple claims Liu informed Peng about how another former Apple employee “fumbled” his answers to a question Tan posed regarding “a top-secret project for an unreleased new Apple product.” Liu then reportedly downloaded “some info” using his access to Apple’s network to assist Peng in preparing for her interview.

In another instance, Apple claims a different former employee began “screenshotting and downloading files relating to a highly confidential Apple project” before an interview with OpenAI. Tan is accused of inquiring about that same project during the interview. Last year, Tan acknowledged receiving confidential information about an AI hardware startup before joining Ive’s io.

Tan allegedly instructed former Apple employees to bring hardware components and product samples from their work at Apple for “show and tell sessions.” For instance, messages left on an Apple-issued work device indicate that Tan directed an Apple employee to “bring some parts [she] worked on” such as “Batteries,” “SIP” (Systems-in-Package), “mlb” (multi-layer or main logic boards), and “shields,” suggesting it would “be good to show” other interviewers these Apple components.

Additionally, OpenAI is accused of asking candidates to prepare “Technical Deep Dive” presentations, with slides containing confidential information from their work at Apple.

Apple claims Tan maintained an internal document detailing employee offboarding procedures. OpenAI allegedly used this information to alert incoming employees from Apple about the company’s security checks and “coached” them on how to circumvent it. The AI company is also accused of advising departing Apple workers not to disclose their new employer and providing tips on how to avoid a “dreaded walk out,” which would lead to their immediate removal from the company, preventing access to Apple’s systems for the standard two weeks. The lawsuit alleges OpenAI instructed Apple employees not to “sign anything at the exit interview,” and if asked to sign a document, to inform OpenAI “asap.”

In the lawsuit, Apple states that OpenAI’s alleged tactics “appear to be having their desired effect.” Apple claims it has observed “a recent trend of employees who are leaving Apple for OpenAI and taking steps to evade security measures,” including workers “ignoring outreach by security personnel to schedule exit processes and security reviews.”

Apple also accuses OpenAI of misappropriating its metal-finishing technique. The company claims OpenAI has used its confidential information to approach its “trusted partners,” including one that performs a proprietary, multi-step metal-finishing technique for its products. OpenAI allegedly misled Apple’s partner into believing it had Apple’s permission to use the metal-finishing technique. “Apple has not given OpenAI or io permission to use or a license to any of Apple’s trade secrets or confidential information, including those it has entrusted with this partner,” Apple asserts.

Furthermore, Apple accuses OpenAI of reaching out to “at least” one other supplier that collaborates with Apple on manufacturing related to power and batteries. OpenAI allegedly utilized confidential information and internal codenames to pose “targeted questions” about Apple’s components “that would be useful in furthering OpenAI’s hardware ambitions.”