Apple steps up accusation of OpenAI secret theft: a MacBook becomes key evidence

A MacBook that was still used after leaving the company became key evidence in Apple’s accusation that OpenAI stole trade secrets. In supporting documents submitted for expedited discovery in the lawsuit, Apple announced the forensic results of the laptop, pointing out that the former employee continued to access Apple's internal resources after switching to OpenAI.

The focus of the document is Chang Liu, a former senior systems electrical engineer at Apple. According to Apple's preliminary forensic investigation, the laptop Liu used after leaving his job showed that he knew he could still access Apple's third-party cloud storage space and used it to download "dozens of confidential Apple files," including a circuit schematic. Apple further alleged that Liu used this circuit diagram for simulation work while working for OpenAI. The forensic results also revealed previously unknown evidence of suspected theft: Apple said Liu mentioned using a set of tools and related software packages in his laptop, the names of which were "identical" to Apple's internal proprietary engineering tools.

Apple's next accusation points more directly to the annihilation of evidence. According to the document, when Liu learned that he was the subject of Apple's internal investigation, he instructed an OpenAI colleague to "restore" any Apple-issued device. Apple considered this to be a deliberate attempt to clear forensic records that might be detrimental to Liu.

This is the latest wave of offensive since Apple filed a trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI earlier this year. When Apple applied for accelerated discovery in early August, it expanded the scope of the accusation, alleging that a total of 11 former employees were suspected of leaking trade secrets to OpenAI. Engadget reported that OpenAI responded by calling Apple's accusations "reckless, aggressive and inexplicably targeted" and denied any wrongdoing.