Apple has filed what it describes as "shocking evidence" in its lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that former employee Chang Liu used confidential Apple circuit schematics in his work at the AI company and enlisted a colleague to destroy evidence when he learned he was under investigation. The new allegations emerged from an examination of Liu's old Apple work laptop, which his legal team handed over to investigators earlier in August 2026. Apple's filing argues that the laptop proves its trade secrets are being actively used and that evidence destruction is underway.

The company alleges that Liu, who now works at OpenAI, utilized an internal Apple circuit design document in his current role and employed a tool with an identical name to a proprietary Apple engineering application. Apple further claims that in June, when Liu discovered Apple was investigating him, he recruited OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to help eliminate evidence. Earlier court documents from Apple included text messages from Liu — complete with "crying laughing" emojis — that showed he knew he still retained access to Apple files. According to Apple's initial complaint, more than 400 former Apple employees currently work at OpenAI.

"The MacBook represents the very limited information Defendants provided so far (and only after weeks of delay), and shows Apple is not conducting 'fishing expeditions' but that its trade secrets are being used and evidence is being destroyed," the filing states. Apple contends that OpenAI was "well-aware" of Liu's access to Apple data. OpenAI has defended Liu by saying he only accessed Apple files after his departure to assist former colleagues who requested help, and that continued access resulted from Apple's failure to properly manage system permissions when employees leave. Apple counters that Liu maintained access by exploiting what it calls "a rare, previously unknown authentication bug."

Apple is pursuing a preliminary injunction that would prevent OpenAI from developing hardware based on Apple's technology while litigation continues, along with expedited discovery to gather evidence quickly. The company suggests that additional former employees may also be involved in trade secret misappropriation. While the specific evidence Apple submitted remains redacted from public court records, the company argues that the laptop investigation validates its concerns that proprietary information is being misused rather than accidentally retained. The case highlights a growing tension between tech giants competing for AI talent while trying to protect intellectual property that took years and billions of dollars to develop. For companies investing heavily in specialized hardware and chip design, the movement of hundreds of engineers to competitors raises questions about how effectively non-disclosure agreements and access controls can safeguard innovation when the knowledge itself resides in employees' heads.