The OpenAI firm has fought back against the trade secrets case filed by Apple Inc., by releasing messages which supposedly reveal that Apple employees still reached out to former engineer Chang Liu for technical assistance even after joining the latter firm.

Apple Employees Sought Liu’s Technical Help

Liu quit Apple on January 22, 2026, yet, according to OpenAI, Apple’s workers kept contacting him after that date. These contacts allegedly involved requests for technical evaluations, schematics, documents, and contact information. Liu later asked to be removed from a group chat, saying that the situation was “highly irregular.”

OpenAI Highlights Apple’s Access Control

The OpenAI representatives stated that such communications are considered a case of “residual access,” through which former employees can access or share any kind of information from their company’s systems. The problem is that the case does not contradict the accusations made by the representatives of Apple.

Lawsuit Involves More Former Apple Employees

According to Apple, over 400 of its former workers are currently working for OpenAI. Additionally, the case involves hardware initiatives by OpenAI as well as Tang Tan, an executive who previously worked with Apple. OpenAI refutes that it encourages its workers to take their former employer’s data.

FAQs

Why did Apple sue OpenAI?
 Apple alleges OpenAI improperly obtained or encouraged the use of its trade secrets.

What did OpenAI publish?
 It released messages and emails involving Liu and Apple employees.

Does this disprove Apple’s claims?
 No. The evidence raises access-control questions but does not settle the trade secret allegations.

Conclusion

However, the evidence provided by OpenAI proves that there is something wrong with Apple’s treatment of its ex-employees and the lawsuit.