OpenAI accuses a former employee of leaking information about an artificial intelligence device

- OpenAI accuses a former employee of stealing intellectual property related to a device that has not yet been released on the market, and later sharing part of this information with Apple. According to a document submitted by OpenAI to the court on Wednesday, this employee had previously worked at Apple, then joined Open AI for 6 months, before returning again to Apple.

The company stated that the employee uploaded more than 100 highly confidential files to his personal accounts before returning to Apple. The transferred files include, according to the document, “detailed images of the device (or devices) that have not yet been released, in addition to highly confidential engineering and manufacturing data related to it.”

The company claims that the last file sent was in June, the employee's last day at the company. OpenAI also claimed that the unnamed former employee “made a presentation about its product plans to senior leadership at Apple, including the vice president of operations in Asia.”

Apple told Ofoq News that it did not find any evidence to support these allegations, noting that it applies strict policies that ensure that new employees do not use confidential information from their previous workplaces. The company also confirmed that it will cooperate with OpenAI to address any presence of information related to the latter within Apple's systems.

Apple accuses OpenAI of trying to distract attention from the original allegations in a case filed against the latter. The allegations came as part of a lawsuit filed by Apple against OpenAI in July, claiming that the AI ​​company stole Apple's trade secrets to develop its own devices.

Apple alleged in its original filing that former OpenAI employees uploaded confidential files and urged job applicants to bring Apple parts to interviews at OpenAI. OpenAI denied the allegations, saying Apple was unable to identify any stolen trade secrets, and sought to have the lawsuit dropped.

The two companies are racing to develop devices powered by artificial intelligence. This week, Apple announced HomeView, its biggest move into the smart home market in nearly a decade, with an improved version of Siri, making it a key component of Apple's AI strategy.

OpenAI is working on an AI-powered device, said to be a small smart speaker without a screen. Last year, OpenAI brought on Apple's former head of product design, Jony Ive, and his company io, to take on design and creative responsibilities across the company.

While engineers and researchers frequently move between companies in Silicon Valley, Apple said in a court filing that OpenAI has hired more than 400 of its former employees.