15/07/2026
According to media reports, Apple claims OpenAI encouraged prospective employees to share confidential product information, engineering drawings and details concerning unreleased hardware during the recruitment process. Apple also says that more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI, including its chief hardware officer, former Apple executive Tang Tan.
Whether the allegations are ultimately proven remains to be seen, but the case highlights something many people already know about Apple:
Apple is widely known for tightly controlling access to unreleased products. This can include strict confidentiality obligations and “need-to-know” access, meaning employees are given access only to the confidential information necessary to perform their particular roles.
The difficult question is determining where general professional expertise ends and legally protected confidential information begins.
That is why these proceedings matter beyond Apple and OpenAI. As technology companies compete for specialised talent, the outcome may influence how businesses recruit from competitors, protect confidential information and develop products using the expertise of former employees.