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Apple Sues OpenAI Over Stolen Secrets by Ex-Employee

Apple Inc. has taken legal action against OpenAI, alleging that a former employee used a previously unknown security flaw to access and steal sensitive company data. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, centers on Chang Liu, a former systems electrical engineer at Apple who later joined OpenAI.

According to Apple's complaint, Liu exploited a zero-day vulnerability—an authentication error that had gone undetected—to bypass security measures and access Apple's internal shared network. The company claims that within weeks of starting at OpenAI, Liu downloaded dozens of confidential documents, including details about unreleased products, engineering presentations, technical specifications, and proprietary project data.

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Apple asserts that Liu retained access to its systems even after leaving the company. Instead of reporting the vulnerability, he allegedly used it for personal gain. The lawsuit also accuses Liu of failing to return his work laptop and misusing the credentials of another current employee to carry out unauthorized activities. In one instance, after discovering he could still remotely access the network, Liu reportedly messaged a colleague saying, "I can still access."

OpenAI has publicly stated that it has "no interest" in acquiring trade secrets from other companies. The case is expected to go to trial this year, with Apple requesting a jury. The outcome could have significant implications for the relationship between the two tech giants and the development of AI hardware.

Key Points

  • Apple sues OpenAI over stolen trade secrets by a former employee.
  • The employee allegedly used a zero-day vulnerability to access confidential data.
  • The case highlights tensions over intellectual property in the AI industry.