OpenAI is pushing back against Apple's trade secret lawsuit and has released chat messages that it says show Apple employees themselves reached out to their former colleague Chang Liu for technical information.
In a blog post, OpenAI accused the iPhone maker of taking a sloppy and unnecessarily aggressive approach. Apple sued OpenAI in a federal court in California for what it calls the systematic theft of trade secrets, alleging that former Apple engineer Chang Liu improperly accessed confidential information after joining OpenAI. Apple also accuses OpenAI of actively encouraging departing employees to steal files and specifications during their notice periods.
Apple employees kept reaching out to their former colleague
According to the published messages, Liu's last day at Apple was January 22, 2026. On that same day and in the weeks that followed, Apple employees repeatedly contacted him to ask technical questions and get his help tracking down internal files.
A message from January 27, 2026, shows an Apple employee asking Liu for a technical assessment and writing, "Of course, I could ask several folks, but you are the best. Even if you don't work here anymore." Liu responded with details about internal Apple decisions.
