OpenAI Says an Ex-Employee Took Its Device Secrets to Apple. In My Opinion, a Spy With No Name Is Not Proof

As 9to5Mac and AppleInsider reported, OpenAI filed a new brief today in the trade secrets lawsuit that Apple started in July. According to OpenAI, a forensic investigation found that a former employee sent “over a hundred highly confidential files” about at least one unreleased OpenAI device to his personal accounts, on June 2, 2026, his last day at the company.

The files allegedly include detailed images of the device, engineering and manufacturing data, supplier information, cosmetic finish standards and reports on coating and sealing. OpenAI also claims the employee presented OpenAI’s plans to Apple’s senior leadership, including Apple’s vice president of operations in Asia. Apple told Reuters it has not found any evidence to support these allegations.

In this article: How we got here · Whose side am I on? OpenAI’s, mostly · Did HomeView come from OpenAI’s ideas? I do not think so · A spy with no name · 400 engineers: competition, not theft of brains · Why do people leave Apple? · Is Apple afraid of Jony Ive? Yes, very · Would I buy an OpenAI speaker for over $300? · Who loses more? · Suing your partner · As an Apple shareholder, am I worried? · FAQ

How we got here

In July, Apple sued OpenAI, Jony Ive’s startup io, which OpenAI bought for $6.5 billion, and two former Apple employees, engineer Chang Liu and former vice president Tang Tan. Apple claims they took hardware trade secrets to OpenAI. In August, Apple talked about “shocking evidence” from a laptop analysis and named 11 more former employees who may have been involved. OpenAI has hired around 400 people from Apple’s hardware teams.

OpenAI denied everything, published messages, and said the case is a mess of Apple’s own making. Now OpenAI is hitting back with its own accusation. Judge Edward Davila is handling the case, and there is no trial date yet.

Whose side am I on? OpenAI’s, mostly

I am more on OpenAI’s side. In my opinion, OpenAI together with Jony Ive can make some really great things that could become real competitors to Apple in the future.

But this specific claim? In my opinion, OpenAI is making a counterattack mostly so people talk about them, so it looks like they are doing something and are not just sitting and passively waiting for Apple’s attack.

Did HomeView come from OpenAI’s ideas? I do not think so

AppleInsider pointed out that OpenAI seems to hint at HomeView. I do not believe it. Not only has Apple worked on it for at least three years, but this form factor itself has been rumored at Apple for years. I do not remember exactly where, but this kind of device reminds me of something Apple showed or planned long ago.

And of course, OpenAI and Ive would never do such ugly things as stealing. That is sarcasm. I simply think that because OpenAI is working on its own speaker, they had to throw some stick into Apple’s wheels too. We will see, but in my opinion, it is not true.

A spy with no name

Apple at least named who it blames and who allegedly took its secrets. Here we have just “some person.” Usually, when giants like these accuse someone, they do it with a name, to get more attention everywhere. Without a name, it does not look credible to me. In my opinion, it looks more like a farce, like a fairy tale, so that OpenAI does not have to admit that only Apple was the victim, and can say Apple took something from them too.

A mythical spy nobody knows. And think about it: in six months, this person got so deep that he could take so many secrets? Then OpenAI should think hard about who they let into their secrets, how far, and how fast.

400 engineers: competition, not theft of brains

Hiring 400 people from Apple is normal competition. How can anyone think they can own the brains of people who work somewhere? To me, it is like a modern form of slavery, just in a different form: a person signs a contract with his own hands, and then a few corporations get too much power over smart people. I would really like that to change.

Taking files is a different story, of course. But changing jobs is not a crime.

Why do people leave Apple?

Ask yourself: when you change jobs, why do you do it? Maybe some left just because Jony Ive is no longer there. But I am sure it is not as rosy at Apple as we think. We do not know how stuffy it is inside. Only the people who work there know, and then they leave where it is better. And then Apple blames them, as if their brains belong to Apple even after they leave.

On MacRumors, one reader wrote: “Treat your critical employees better and they won’t leave.” I agree with that.

Is Apple afraid of Jony Ive? Yes, very

Judging by these lawsuits, Apple is afraid, and quite a lot. Ive really is a big talent, and Apple knows why it fears him. But that is exactly what I like. Maybe Ive will push Apple to stop releasing every minor upgrade as a “wow” thing, and then selling the same product for years.

And about Apple’s latest gadgets, I would rather stay quiet. In my opinion, they are a flop. Maybe I am wrong. Apple TV today is something almost every smart TV already has built in, so you do not need the box. And HomeView is a gadget for a few weeks. I am sure that the longer you own it, the less you will use it. I see it as a speaker with an extra display for the iPhone. But standing in front of it like in front of a TV, a computer or a tablet? I do not believe it. Maybe moms in the kitchen. Maybe that was the target segment.

And remember: it works only together with an iPhone. If you do not own one, it is not $299 anymore. Then you are close to the price of a top projector with a smart TV inside, not a tiny display with a speaker.

Would I buy an OpenAI speaker for over $300?

Reports say OpenAI is working on an AI speaker priced above $300. Right now it is too early to say if it will be just a speaker or something more. Everything depends on what they really give us for that price. For now, it is only speculation.

Who loses more?

It hurts both. But both also get free advertising, and people talk about them more. Lately, investors like it a lot when a company is in public conversation.

Here, though, I think OpenAI will suffer more, because probably nobody believes them, and investors do not like that before an IPO. But we will see. Maybe tomorrow they will find someone to name.

Suing your partner

Apple uses ChatGPT in Siri, and at the same time sues OpenAI. I will never understand this. You have business relations, and at the same time you fight in court. For me, it is always a dark forest, and I do not understand the arrogance of these big companies. But they do what they want. I am sure that in the end they will make peace somehow.

Why? OpenAI is a big player in AI, and Apple sees well that the further it goes, the more everything goes into AI. Apple knows the leaders on the market are OpenAI or Anthropic, and then everyone else. If Apple walks away from a leader now, it will be hard. And one thing I know for sure: Apple is terribly behind in AI. So I think in the near future we may slowly see a bit of a decline at Apple. But let us wait for the gadget OpenAI shows. I am rooting for them a lot.

As an Apple shareholder, am I worried?

Not at all. Lately, I see that Apple also takes the trajectory of Musk: more show, more noise. Maybe that is just a trend.

Featured photo: Apple Park by Daniel L. Lu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Disclosure: the author owns Apple shares. This article is opinion, not investment advice. The claims described here are allegations made in court filings and have not been proven.

Apple vs OpenAI: FAQ

What does OpenAI accuse Apple of?

In an October 14, 2026 filing, OpenAI claims a former employee who came from Apple, worked at OpenAI for six months and returned to Apple sent over a hundred confidential files about an unreleased OpenAI device to his personal accounts and presented OpenAI’s plans to Apple leadership. The person is not named.

What does Apple say?

Apple told Reuters it has found no evidence to support the allegations and has policies to make sure new employees do not use confidential information from previous employers.

Why did Apple sue OpenAI?

In July 2026, Apple sued OpenAI, Jony Ive’s io and former employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan, alleging they took hardware trade secrets to OpenAI. OpenAI denies it.

Is OpenAI making a device with Jony Ive?

Yes. OpenAI bought Ive’s startup io for $6.5 billion, and reports say it is working on an AI speaker priced above $300.

When will the Apple vs OpenAI case go to trial?

There is no trial date yet. Judge Edward Davila is handling the case.

Sources: 9to5Mac, AppleInsider, Reuters, Engadget, MacRumors.

Our Take

Do not jump to fast conclusions. We will see how it ends.

In my opinion, OpenAI’s unnamed spy sounds more like a counterattack than proof, but I am rooting for OpenAI and Jony Ive to build something that finally makes Apple try harder.

We will keep watching this series.