Judge directs OpenAI to provide hiring records and interview materials in Apple trade secret dispute

A U.S. federal court has mandated that OpenAI provide hiring records and interview materials related to former Apple employees within a set timeframe in a trade secrets case. The court ordered OpenAI to submit initial documents within five days and additional materials within fourteen days. The discovery includes interview checklists, technical presentations, and LINE messaging records from former Apple employees who worked in OpenAI’s consumer hardware and robotics departments. The court also approved the examination of OpenAI employees Liu Chang, Peng Ailisa, and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yaotan. Apple alleges that former employees used company laptops to download confidential technical specifications and proprietary data. As OpenAI develops consumer hardware that could compete with smartphones, the case highlights the legal boundaries and compliance challenges faced by major AI firms in talent acquisition and technology competition. The ruling could influence future industry practices regarding talent mobility and data protection.