Apple claims OpenAI is destroying evidence of its crimes in tech theft case

According to Apple, OpenAI illegally borrowed technology from the first company while trying to develop its own smart devices. Now that the lawsuit is in court, Apple reports that OpenAI attempted to cover its tracks by destroying incriminating evidence. The former Apple engineer is also accused of using documents about the company’s chips to benefit OpenAI.

Image credit: Unsplash, Zach Wolf

It is understood BloombergIn new information Apple provided to the court, the company claimed that its former engineer Liu Chang not only downloaded confidential technical documents from the company network after leaving the company, but also used these documents in his activities as an OpenAI employee. Additionally, he allegedly discussed with new colleagues the possibility of eliminating incriminating evidence against him. Apple insists on expediting pretrial collection of evidence against OpenAI, which is trying to dismiss the lawsuit.

Liu is considered one of the key figures in the matter, although overall OpenAI has managed to attract more than 400 former employees, according to Apple. According to Apple, the defendant had only recently produced for inspection a laptop issued to Engineer Liu at his previous workplace, and Apple experts revealed that he and his new colleagues were aware that the company’s employees had access to their confidential data. Apple claims Liu sent instructions to a colleague at OpenAI to destroy evidence of access to the first company’s infrastructure, and she agreed to assist him. Additionally, he can use the material he receives from Apple to train an artificial intelligence agent. After turning to OpenAI, Chang Liu allegedly downloaded documents describing the power converter design from Apple’s confidential resources.

Apple also accused OpenAI of obstructing the process of providing evidence and suspected it of destroying evidence. In its statement of claim, Apple seeks financial damages and an injunction from using development work OpenAI allegedly stole from the company through interviews with some of the plaintiff’s former and current employees. A court hearing on the specific matter is scheduled for October 1 this year.