Apple has filed a new document in its ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming it has uncovered “shocking evidence” from a forensic examination of a laptop used by former Apple engineer Chang Liu. The lawsuit, which Apple initiated in July 2026, accuses OpenAI and two former Apple employees of stealing trade secrets to help OpenAI develop its consumer hardware. Apple alleges that Liu, who left Apple in January to join OpenAI, downloaded a confidential circuit diagram and later used it in his work at OpenAI. According to Apple, Liu was aware of his unauthorized access to Apple’s third-party cloud storage and even sent instructions to an OpenAI colleague to destroy evidence after learning Apple was investigating him. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in California, names OpenAI, its affiliated company io Products, and the two former engineers as defendants. Apple claims that confidential documents, supplier details, and proprietary manufacturing processes were obtained in an irregular manner. The company also accused OpenAI of encouraging job candidates to disclose internal information about Apple’s unrevealed projects during interviews. OpenAI denies any interest in Apple’s trade secrets and insists it aims to develop original technology. Apple has been pushing for an expedited discovery process in the case, emphasizing the urgency of retrieving evidence before it is lost. In the newly filed document, Apple highlights the forensic findings from Liu’s MacBook, which reportedly show that Liu used the stolen circuit diagram in a simulation tool called LTspice. Apple argues that when trade secrets are integrated into AI models, they can lead to irreversible and widespread use of the stolen information. The company also claims that Liu used the diagram on a Mac mini, which was later synced with the MacBook he took from Apple, and now seeks access to that device. OpenAI has requested the case be dismissed, and in August 2026, it published a detailed public rebuttal titled “Apple is wrong,” calling the lawsuit “negligent, aggressive, and oddly personal.” OpenAI disputes Apple’s claims about prior contact, pointing to an email sent by Apple’s lawyer in February that was mistakenly sent to the wrong person due to a mix-up in Asian surnames. The email chain, which OpenAI published alongside apologies from Apple’s legal team, suggests the initial communication between the two companies was not as Apple described. While the legal battle continues, analysts remain divided on the merits of Apple’s allegations.