The company is seeking expedited discovery in an ongoing lawsuit.
Apple has claimed that even more former employees may have leaked trade secrets to OpenAI, according to a report from TechCrunch. The company is seeking a preliminary injunction in its case against OpenAI, which would prevent the AI company from moving forward with the development of any device suspected of being based on Apple’s technology.
Apple is requesting expedited discovery to get to the bottom of the matter, according to a recent court filing. The company previously accused Chang Liu, a former senior systems electrical engineer, and Tang Yew Tan, a former vice president, of sharing trade secrets with OpenAI.
Apple now says an internal investigation has revealed 11 other former employees who may have witnessed or directly involved in the alleged shenanigans. This, along with the request for an expedited investigation, appears to suggest that the company has new evidence pointing to misconduct.
Apple says another former employee met with Chang Liu before an interview at OpenAI “and discussed with them during that meeting Apple-exclusive information relating to unannounced products.” The filing also states that “another former Apple employee took screenshots of confidential Apple documents relating to an unannounced Apple product before an interview at OpenAI.”
The iPhone maker also said in the filing that “several former Apple employees currently working at OpenAI have reached out to discuss the return of Apple-issued work devices that they retained when they left Apple.”
Yesterday, before this latest filing, OpenAI wrote that Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction was “both based on false information and completely unnecessary because we neither have nor want any of their trade secrets.” He posted text messages involving Chang Liu that appear to suggest that Apple employees contacted him after he left the company, asking for the location of certain files. OpenAI said this was an example of Apple “failing to properly manage system access when people leave.” The company has yet to respond to Apple’s latest volley, which includes the request for expedited discovery.
Rumors are circulating that OpenAI is working on some sort of AI-enabled smart speaker with former Apple design luminary Jony Ives. The company recently purchased its startup, io Products, for $6.5 billion. This entity was named as a co-defendant in the lawsuit.
