OpenAI alleges ex-employee took product files and showed them to Apple

OpenAI alleged in a court filing on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, that a former employee walked away with more than 100 files tied to its product plans before taking a job at Apple. According to the filing, the unnamed person forwarded the material to a personal account and later presented it to Apple's leadership.

OpenAI says the audience for that presentation included Apple's vice president of operations in Asia. The company claims the files hold images of at least one unreleased device, along with supplier details, engineering data, project files and standards for cosmetic finishes. It also says they contain reports on how hardware components are coated and sealed.

Pointing at HomeView

OpenAI draws a line between the alleged presentation and Apple's HomeView smart display, as well as the other devices Apple unveiled this week. The company argues the presentation seems to have taken place months ago and that Apple is now pushing deeper into AI-enabled products with that knowledge in hand. To support the point, OpenAI cites Apple's own product announcement and a news article about the launches.

That connection may be hard to establish. Apple typically plans products years in advance, and a smart display from the company had been the subject of rumors for a long time. Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations.

A dispute running both ways

The filing is part of an ongoing trade secrets case between the two companies, in which Apple has accused OpenAI of stealing confidential documents and spying on hardware prototypes to build its own devices. With this filing, OpenAI is now on the offensive.

OpenAI says it is deeply worried that its confidential work is circulating inside Apple, where engineers could use it to shape upcoming products. None of the claims from either side have been proven in court.

The clash comes as AI developers move into consumer hardware, putting OpenAI and Apple in direct competition. It highlights growing tension over engineers changing employers and how companies guard sensitive design and supply chain information.