• Apple (AAPL) says an OpenAI-provided MacBook shows an employee accessed a proprietary power-converter schematic and used confidential information to train an AI agent.
  • The company is pushing for expedited discovery in its trade-secret case against OpenAI, citing the new evidence.
  • OpenAI has denied the allegations and moved to dismiss, setting up a contentious legal battle.

New Evidence in Apple's Trade-Secret Case

Apple is escalating its legal fight against OpenAI, claiming that evidence from a MacBook provided by the AI company reveals that an OpenAI employee accessed a proprietary power-converter circuit schematic and used confidential Apple information to train an AI agent. The revelation came from a laptop handed over by OpenAI on August 21 during the ongoing litigation, according to a recent filing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

The filing, which seeks to expedite discovery, marks a significant turn in a case that began in July when Apple accused OpenAI, its hardware affiliate io Products, and two former Apple employees—Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan—of misappropriating trade secrets to advance OpenAI's consumer-hardware ambitions. Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer at Apple, and Tan, ex-vice president of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch, are central figures in the allegations.

"The evidence from the MacBook is a game-changer," said a source familiar with Apple's strategy, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It directly links OpenAI's internal operations to the use of Apple's confidential engineering data." Apple is now pressing the court to allow accelerated evidence gathering, arguing that the material warrants immediate scrutiny to prevent further misuse.

A Contentious Legal Battle

OpenAI, which has denied any wrongdoing, filed a motion to dismiss on August 5, characterizing Apple's claims as "deficient" and asserting that its products are "entirely new and different" from Apple's. The company contends that Apple has failed to identify a protectable trade secret or plausibly allege misappropriation. OpenAI declined to comment on the latest filing, but in earlier statements, it maintained that it has no need for Apple's proprietary information.

Apple, on the other hand, is seeking a preliminary injunction to bar OpenAI and the former employees from using or disclosing the asserted confidential information. The company's request for expedited discovery includes depositions of Liu, Tan, OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng, and other unnamed individuals, as well as access to internal documents and communication records.

Legal experts note that trade-secret cases often hinge on procedural battles over evidence. "Expedited discovery can be critical in these situations," said Sarah Thompson, a litigator specializing in intellectual property. "If the plaintiff can show a credible threat of ongoing harm, courts are sometimes willing to fast-track discovery to preserve the status quo."

Wider Implications for the AI Industry

This dispute is more than a corporate spat; it underscores the intensifying competition between tech giants as AI reshapes consumer hardware. Apple's core business relies on integrated hardware and software, while OpenAI's alleged push into devices could challenge that ecosystem. The case also highlights growing concerns about how AI systems might inadvertently incorporate proprietary information, raising questions for enterprises about data governance and employee mobility.

Reuters (TRI) has reported that analysts see OpenAI as potentially developing a phone or another consumer device, which would directly compete with Apple. The lawsuit's outcome could set precedents for how trade-secret laws apply to AI training, particularly with the rise of agentic workflows.

In the near term, all eyes are on the court's decision on Apple's discovery request. A ruling could come within weeks. If granted, discovery will proceed rapidly, potentially uncovering more details about OpenAI's alleged use of Apple's schematic. If denied, the case may follow a standard litigation timeline, prolonging the uncertainty.

For now, both companies remain locked in a legal duel that could shape the future of AI-driven hardware.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the date of Apple's initial lawsuit. It was filed in July 2026.