Apple shares ‘shocking evidence’ against former employee accused of stealing company data for OpenAI

Apple Presents 'Shocking Evidence' in OpenAI Trade Secret Lawsuit

Apple has intensified its lawsuit against OpenAI, submitting new court filings it describes as “shocking evidence” against former employee Chang Liu. The filing alleges that Liu, who now works at OpenAI, not only retained access to sensitive company data but actively used it in his new role and attempted to destroy evidence. This development, which emerged from a forensic analysis of Liu’s old Apple work laptop, significantly raises the stakes in the ongoing legal conflict over intellectual property between the two tech giants.

Laptop Forensics Uncover Alleged Misuse and Cover-Up

According to the new evidence, which is currently redacted from public view, Liu allegedly used a confidential Apple circuit schematic and an internal engineering tool while at OpenAI. Apple further claims that OpenAI was “well-aware” of Liu's access to its data and that Liu enlisted colleague Yu-Ting Peng to help destroy evidence. This directly challenges OpenAI’s previous public statements blaming the issue on Apple's “residual access” problems, with Apple now asserting Liu exploited a “rare, previously unknown authentication bug” to maintain his access.

• Use of a confidential Apple circuit schematic at OpenAI.
• Deployment of a tool sharing a name with an internal Apple engineering application.
• Alleged enlistment of an OpenAI colleague to help destroy digital evidence.
• Exploitation of a previously unknown authentication bug to retain access to Apple systems.

Broader Implications for AI Talent and IP

In response, Apple is seeking a preliminary injunction to block OpenAI from using its technology for hardware development, as well as expedited discovery to investigate other potential leaks. The case highlights the intense competition for talent and the critical importance of intellectual property protection as AI firms push aggressively into proprietary hardware. With court filings noting that more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI, the outcome of this lawsuit could set a significant precedent for how employee transitions and trade secrets are managed across the highly competitive AI industry.

This lawsuit is less about a single employee and more about drawing a legal line in the sand. As the AI hardware race accelerates, Apple is signaling that it will aggressively protect its IP, a move designed to challenge the rapid and often fluid movement of top engineering talent between Big Tech and well-funded AI startups.