Apple Sued OpenAI for Trade Secret Theft, But Kept Asking the Engineer for Help

kimmonismus · x · 2026-08-04

Apple sued OpenAI for stealing hardware secrets. However, OpenAI has now published messages indicating that Apple employees continued to ask former engineer Chang Liu to locate internal files, explain product decisions, and help with technical questions weeks after his departure.

OpenAI also stated that Apple falsely claimed they couldn't reach OpenAI, while emails revealed Apple's outside lawyer actually thanked OpenAI’s General Counsel for a phone call that never happened. While this doesn't disprove Apple's broader trade-secret allegations, Apple must now explain its offboarding failures and why its staff kept seeking confidential help from someone they accuse of stealing secrets.

Related event: OpenAI Countersues Apple: Reveals Lawyer Mix-up and Post-Departure Help Requests(7 posts)→

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