Apple Demands Documents From Former Employees Now at OpenAI

Apple sent letters to about 40 former employees who now work at OpenAI, demanding that they preserve documents and communications and meet with Apple lawyers, the Financial Times reported Friday (July 17), citing unnamed sources.

The move is part of Apple’s efforts to secure evidence for the lawsuit it filed last week against OpenAI and two of the artificial intelligence company’s employees, alleging that they stole trade secrets, according to the report.

About 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI, per the report.

Neither Apple nor OpenAI immediately replied to PYMNTS’ request for comment.

Apple filed its lawsuit July 10, alleging that OpenAI, Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan and technical staff member Chang Liu stole trade secrets from Apple to support OpenAI’s development of devices. Tan and Liu are former Apple employees.

Apple said in the lawsuit that it doesn’t know what OpenAI did with the information it alleges was stolen by Tan and Liu but claimed that “at every level, from members of its technical staff to its chief hardware officer, and in coordination with business partners, OpenAI has been stealing Apple’s trade secrets and confidential information.”

With its lawsuit, the company is demanding that OpenAI stop the practices alleged in the suit, destroy any proprietary materials and redesign its upcoming products so that they don’t use any Apple technology.

In a July 10 post on social platform X, OpenAI Director of Strategic Communications Drew Pusateri said: “We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”

Our statement in response to this suit: We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere. https://t.co/lIxGW6hyz5

— Drew Pusateri (@drewpusateri) July 10, 2026

It was reported Sunday (July 12) that Apple’s lawsuit came as the tech world scrambles to develop AI-powered devices that go a step beyond the smartphone and that the winner of this race could play the same role Apple now plays in the consumer market.

OpenAI released its first hardware product Wednesday (July 15). The product is a $230 programmable macropad for developers managing AI coding agents.

It was reported Tuesday (July 14) that the company is developing a portable smart speaker that serves as an AI companion. OpenAI aims to reveal the device this year and launch it in 2027.