Apple has moved to expand its legal hold in the dispute with OpenAI by sending formal letters to roughly 40 former employees who now work at the AI company, warning them not to delete any material that could be relevant to its lawsuit alleging misappropriation of trade secrets.
Source and context
The letters follow a lawsuit Apple filed in early July 2026 claiming that OpenAI received Apple trade secrets from former Apple employees. Two former Apple executives named in the complaint are Tang Tan and Chang Liu. The communication to ex-employees requires preservation of all relevant documentation so the information can be produced if needed.
Why this matters
Apple’s outreach to dozens of former staffers suggests the company believes the evidence in its complaint may only represent a portion of a broader issue. The filing alleges conduct beyond the two named executives, including claims that one of the defendants encouraged job candidates to bring Apple parts to interviews and that he retained access to Apple’s internal networks using a device he did not return.
Key takeaway
Apple has sent preservation letters to around 40 former staffers now at OpenAI as part of its lawsuit alleging OpenAI used Apple trade secrets.
What Apple alleges
Apple’s complaint asserts trade secret misuse involving former employees now at OpenAI and expresses concern about data that it alleges has already been deleted by some co-defendants. The company’s legal filings portray those deletions as especially troubling for its ability to investigate and litigate the matter.
OpenAI’s position and the wider personnel picture
OpenAI has denied the allegations. The dispute has broader personnel implications: there are reportedly more than 400 former Apple employees currently working at OpenAI, and at least two ex-Apple executives have been named directly in the suit. Tang Tan is identified as OpenAI’s Chief Hardware Officer, while Chang Liu is described as a member of OpenAI’s hardware team.
3 min read
Apple coverage from PhonesGATE. Published Jul 19, 2026.
Product context
The case also intersects with OpenAI’s work on a consumer smart device powered by its ChatGPT model, a product thought to be similar in concept to existing smart speakers. Apple’s claims center on alleged hardware-related knowledge transfers that the company says could have influenced OpenAI’s development efforts.
PhonesGATE quick analysis
The preservation letters are a standard legal step but their scope—targeting around 40 former employees—indicates Apple sees potentially substantial evidence beyond the individuals explicitly named in the lawsuit. If Apple can document hardware design or implementation details inappropriately taken to a competitor, that could complicate OpenAI’s product plans and increase litigation risk for both parties.
What this means for buyers
For consumers, this is chiefly a legal dispute over personnel and intellectual property rather than a direct product safety or availability issue—however, prolonged litigation could affect timelines for any forthcoming OpenAI hardware. Buyers tracking smart-home devices should watch the case for developments that might delay or change product launches.
Sources and methodology
This article is based on reporting from AppleInsider, with PhonesGATE editorial context and buyer-focused analysis.