Apple has denied an accusation from OpenAI that one of the AI company’s former employees brought confidential files on an unreleased OpenAI device to the iPhone maker.
The frontier AI lab claimed an unnamed employee, who worked for Apple before and after joining OpenAI for six months, sent over 100 confidential files to his personal accounts. Some of those files were allegedly sent on June 2, the worker’s last day at OpenAI. The information in question pertained to an in-development OpenAI product that may rival Apple’s technology.
OpenAI also alleged the former employee presented its product plans to senior Apple executives, including the company’s vice president of operations in Asia, months ago. OpenAI said that “Apple is making a new push into AI-enabled products” based on that information.
OpenAI made the allegation in a court filing ahead of a case management conference on Wednesday.
The development is part of a broader case brought by Apple, which filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of stealing its trade secrets by poaching two former Apple employees who breached their Intellectual Property Agreement with the technology company. In a twist to the case, OpenAI is now accusing the plaintiff of stealing its trade secrets.
“OpenAI 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,” the AI company said in the court document. “OpenAI has raised these issues directly with Apple, but to date, Apple has not provided OpenAI with the requested assurances that Apple is not in possession of, and has not used, OpenAI’s trade secret and confidential information.”
Apple told the Washington Examiner that it hasn’t found evidence to support OpenAI’s allegations, adding that its rival’s claims amount to a distraction from the evidence showing two Apple-turned-OpenAI employees stealing secret and confidential information regarding Apple’s unreleased products.
Apple also said OpenAI hasn’t responded to its request for more information to assist the iPhone maker’s investigation into the alleged theft of trade secrets raised by the lawsuit. Apple maintained it has strict policies that prohibit new employees from using any confidential information belonging to a prior employer.
APPLE ADMITS TO ACCIDENTALLY EMAILING WRONG PERSON AT OPENAI OVER TRADE SECRETS LAWSUIT
It remains to be seen what a federal judge makes of the back-and-forth allegations from both parties.
The legal battle is notable considering Apple integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its operating systems for iPhones, iPads, and Macs in December 2024. As for the unreleased OpenAI device at the center of the AI lab’s new allegation, the product has not been confirmed. However, reports indicate OpenAI could be developing an AI-powered smartphone that could possibly compete with iPhones in the future.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
