OpenAI accuses ex-employee of taking device plans to Apple

· Tech · United States

OpenAI has accused a former employee of sharing unreleased device plans with senior leadership at Apple, according to a court filing made on Wednesday. The allegation echoes claims Apple made against OpenAI in a lawsuit the iPhone maker filed in July. The former employee, Abdulrahman Alfozan, has separately been accused by federal prosecutors of planting a recording device in an OpenAI conference room; prosecutors had asked a judge to seal the case over fears he might flee the US. Business Insider reports the FBI says the device used to bug the office cost about $24 and was not sophisticated. Alfozan's career, per Business Insider, was defined by a desire to learn from Silicon Valley and build bridges with Saudi Arabia.

Why it matters：The cross-allegations between two of the biggest names in consumer AI and hardware show how fiercely trade secrets and unreleased device plans are now contested.

Key points

  • OpenAI's filing claims the former employee shared unreleased device plans with Apple leadership.
  • The claim mirrors Apple's July lawsuit against OpenAI over similar allegations.
  • Alfozan also faces federal charges over a recording device found in an OpenAI conference room.

Sources (original reporting)

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