In a lengthy statement posted to its Newsroom, OpenAI has published a press release titled 'Apple is getting this wrong', in response to the trade secrets lawsuit brought against them last month.
OpenAI begins with praise for Apple, calling it "one of the greatest companies of all time" and that the company is known for "obsessing over the smallest details."
This reputation has been used against them in this statement, calling Apple 'careless' for allegedly "confusing two Asian last names" during email correspondence between the two parties.
OpenAI also claims that Apple has not met with their General Counsel, despite initially saying that they had.
Apple has accused a former employee, Chang Liu who now works for OpenAI, of accessing confidential documents following his departure. This press release claims, however, that it was other Apple employees that initially got into contact with Liu.
OpenAI has backed this up with iMessages, though they have been recreated and cannot be verified.
At one point, a person labeled as [Apple Employee #1], messages Liu saying:
"I found a 64GB drive. Do you think that will work>"
Liu responds with:
"I think 200 ish. We start from 64. Better than nothing..... Still copying"
OpenAI says these messages were from a former colleague of Liu's, who needed help to " locate files and information to assist them with their Apple work".
The string of messages ends with a request to "continue our discussion internally", by the Apple employee, after additional staff members from Apple were added to the chat.
Apple brought the lawsuit against OpenAI last month, accusing multiple former employees of sharing upcoming products, and sometimes physical prototypes, with OpenAI.
At the time, OpenAI denied any wrongdoing, saying that they have "no interest in other companies’ trade secrets".
