TechCrunch reported on October 13 that a judge ordered OpenAI to give Apple early access to some hiring records. Apple sued OpenAI in July over trade secrets. Judge Edward Davila said Apple may see OpenAI's interview materials for ex-Apple staff who applied to its hardware and robotics teams. OpenAI has five days to hand over what it already gathered, and 14 days for the rest. Apple may also get private LINE chat messages between people named in the case, including OpenAI's Chang Liu and Alyssa Peng. Apple may question Liu, Peng and OpenAI's chief hardware officer, Tang Yew Tan, under oath. All three used to work at Apple.
Apple's suit alleges a pattern of theft. It says former employees used Apple laptops to download confidential files, and that ex-Apple staff at OpenAI coached recruits on what to bring to interviews. TechCrunch gave no reply from OpenAI and does not say what the records show. The judge refused fast access to OpenAI research on areas like metal finishes and power management. He also denied several broader requests. That is not final, because Apple may narrow its requests and try again.
TechCrunch says OpenAI is building a consumer device that could rival the iPhone if it becomes central to how people use software. For companies that hire from rivals, the order shows that interview scripts and chat messages can be sought as evidence in a trade secrets dispute.