Apple Alleges More Ex-Employees Leaked Confidential Data to OpenAI

Apple has stated that it suspects many of its former employees took confidential company information before joining OpenAI. According to court documents reported by TechCrunch on Tuesday, Apple said its investigation has identified 11 former employees in addition to the two previously sued, namely former senior systems engineer Chang Liu and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan. Apple also reiterated the name of OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng, who was already listed in its initial lawsuit. Apple believes these findings indicate that the alleged violations involve more than just the individuals named in the previous suit. In the documents, Apple claims one former employee met with Liu and Peng before Peng underwent a job interview at OpenAI and discussed confidential information about unannounced Apple products. Apple also accuses another former employee of taking screenshots of confidential documents related to unreleased products before participating in the recruitment process at OpenAI. Furthermore, Apple stated that several former employees now working at OpenAI contacted the company after the lawsuit was filed to return Apple work devices they had kept since leaving the company. According to Apple, this is an indication of possible involvement by other parties. Based on these findings, Apple is asking the court to expedite the evidence-gathering process and has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to temporarily halt the development of artificial intelligence devices or other OpenAI products suspected of utilising Apple’s technology. Meanwhile, OpenAI has denied all the allegations. In a statement on its official blog, the AI company said Apple’s motion is based on incorrect information because OpenAI neither possesses nor desires Apple’s trade secrets. OpenAI also believes Apple made several errors in handling this case, including contacting the wrong party when first raising its objections. OpenAI further claimed that former employees could gain access to Apple’s systems due to the company’s weak internal security procedures.