Apple has filed its formal response to OpenAI's claim that an engineer who left OpenAI to rejoin Apple took confidential files about an unreleased OpenAI device with him. The short version: Apple says it looked and found nothing.
The filing, made public alongside two exhibits, lays out a timeline. According to Apple, OpenAI first raised the issue on October 9, Apple began investigating right away, and on October 12 it wrote back to say it had been "unable to locate any OpenAI confidential information." Apple says it then asked for more specific details so it could run other searches, but OpenAI didn't respond and instead brought the allegation to the court.
"Apple requested more specific information so that it could perform alternative searches. OpenAI did not respond, and instead filed Docket No. 176 with the Court," the filing reads. Apple adds that it "will continue to work with OpenAI to investigate its allegations."
Apple also confirms some background on the engineer, whose name is redacted. He works on Apple's Manufacturing Design team focused on iPhone, the same role he held before leaving for OpenAI and then deciding to come back.
The company pushes back on OpenAI's approach, too. It says OpenAI made its filing "without any notice to Apple" and that the claims are "unrelated to the claims" in the actual case, which centers on Apple's allegation that OpenAI, io Products and former Apple employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan misused Apple's confidential information. Even so, Apple says in an exhibit that it is "taking appropriate steps, including preservation of evidence" in response to OpenAI's letter.
The back-and-forth adds a strange mirror-image twist to a case that already had OpenAI agreeing this week not to use any of the alleged Apple trade secrets while the suit plays out.
— via 9to5Mac