A federal judge has ordered OpenAI to hand Apple expedited access to its hiring materials for former Apple employees, in the trade secrets lawsuit Apple filed in July. Why it matters: the ruling gives Apple a fast, narrow window into how OpenAI recruited staff for its consumer hardware and robotics work — the teams building OpenAI’s first device — while keeping OpenAI’s wider research out of Apple’s hands for now.
October 13, 2026
What the judge ordered
U.S. District Judge Edward Davila granted Apple expedited discovery covering OpenAI’s interviews with former Apple employees who applied for roles in its consumer hardware and robotics groups. The materials can include the tools used to run those interviews — checklists, guides, instructions, manuals and scripts — along with technical presentations and any records suggesting Apple technology or components came up during the discussions.
The timetable is short. Material OpenAI has already collected is due within five days, and other material covered by the order is due within 14 days. The judge also allowed Apple to obtain private messages sent through the LINE messaging app between people named in the case, including OpenAI employees Chang Liu and Alyssa Peng, and approved depositions for Liu, Peng and OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, Tang Yew Tan. All three previously worked at Apple.
What Apple alleges, and what it did not get
Apple’s lawsuit accuses OpenAI of a pattern of taking its confidential material. The complaint points to former employees downloading files from Apple laptops, including material on unannounced technologies, features and products, technical specifications, engineering presentations and proprietary project data. Apple also alleges that former employees who had moved to OpenAI coached others considering the same move on what information to bring to their interviews.
This ruling is only a partial win. The judge declined to expedite Apple’s access to OpenAI research in areas such as metal finishes and power management, and turned down broader requests covering OpenAI’s hardware research and what former Apple employees have created since joining. Those denials are not necessarily final — Apple can narrow the requests and ask again.
Why it matters
OpenAI is developing a consumer hardware device, and a successful AI-first device is one of the few products that could plausibly loosen the phone’s grip on how people use software and services. That is exactly why Apple is fighting over hiring records rather than waiting for a product to ship: if confidential know-how moved with departing staff, the interview trail is where it would show up first. For readers, the practical takeaway is timing — the five- and 14-day deadlines, followed by depositions, mean this case will produce concrete filings quickly, and those filings may offer the clearest public look yet at how OpenAI is staffing its hardware push. Nothing in this ruling decides whether any trade secret was actually taken; it decides only how fast Apple gets to look for evidence.
Frequently asked questions
What does OpenAI have to hand over, and by when?
Hiring and interview materials tied to former Apple employees who applied to OpenAI’s consumer hardware and robotics groups — already-collected material within five days, and other covered material within 14 days — plus specified private LINE messages between named individuals.
Who will be deposed?
The judge approved depositions for Chang Liu, Alyssa Peng and Tang Yew Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer. All three are former Apple employees.
What did Apple ask for and not get?
Expedited access to OpenAI research on topics including metal finishes and power management, and broader access to its hardware research and to work former Apple employees produced at OpenAI. Apple may narrow those requests and try again.
Sources: TechCrunch, U.S. District Court order via CourtListener