Apple has acknowledged sending an email to the wrong recipient at OpenAI as part of its ongoing trade secrets lawsuit against the AI company. The admission comes as Apple seeks a preliminary injunction to halt OpenAI’s development of AI hardware products, alleging broader misconduct involving former Apple employees.
Apple’s admission of error
In a court filing on Monday, Apple disclosed that its outside counsel mistakenly emailed OpenAI’s general counsel in February, intending to contact a different individual. The error occurred after lawyers confused two Asian last names. Apple also conceded that it had incorrectly claimed to have spoken with OpenAI’s general counsel, a discussion that never took place. OpenAI highlighted these errors in a blog post titled “Apple is getting this wrong,” arguing that Apple’s lawsuit was based on flawed premises. OpenAI stated that Apple’s outside counsel sent three emails to the wrong recipient and that OpenAI had not responded to any of them, despite later confirming Apple’s representation.
Escalation in legal battle
Apple’s lawsuit, filed in July, accuses OpenAI of benefiting from trade secrets stolen by former Apple employees, including senior systems engineer Chang Liu and hardware chief Tang Yew Tan. In a new filing, Apple claims its investigation has uncovered 11 additional former employees who may have been involved, including those who allegedly shared proprietary information about unannounced products during interviews at OpenAI. The company also alleges that multiple former Apple employees reached out to discuss returning work devices they kept after leaving, suggesting further involvement. Apple is seeking expedited discovery to uncover additional evidence.
OpenAI’s defense and workplace culture
OpenAI has denied wrongdoing, stating it has no interest in Apple’s trade secrets. In its rebuttal, the company shared internal messages from Chang Liu, who left Apple in January to join OpenAI. Liu’s texts described OpenAI’s AI-driven workplace as markedly different from Apple’s, with heavy reliance on AI tools. OpenAI also claimed that Apple employees contacted Liu after his departure, raising concerns about Apple’s internal access management. The company’s blog post criticized Apple’s lawsuit as “careless, aggressive and oddly personal,” while emphasizing its commitment to ethical practices.
Key allegations and timeline
- February: Apple’s outside counsel mistakenly emailed OpenAI’s general counsel, intending to contact a different individual.
- July: Apple filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of trade secrets theft involving former employees.
- August: Apple’s new filing claims 11 additional former employees may be involved, including those who allegedly shared confidential information.
- August: OpenAI publishes internal messages and emails to counter Apple’s claims, calling the lawsuit flawed.