OpenAI is in deep legal trouble

15 Jul 2026 · 2 min

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2:05

In a single‑speaker, gossip‑styled YouTube commentary, the narrator (styled as a "Silicon Valley gossip girl") outlines Apple’s recent federal lawsuit alleging that OpenAI orchestrated a systematic theft of Apple trade secrets. The video references Apple’s 41‑page complaint, highlighting three former Apple employees now at OpenAI—Tang Tan (former Apple VP, now OpenAI chief hardware officer), Chang Liu (ex‑Apple engineer), and Alyssa Pang (ex‑Apple employee). The narrator details alleged tactics: Tan requesting hardware samples and confidential slides from Apple‑origin candidates, messaging Apple staff on work devices, and providing a document to help former Apple employees evade security exit procedures. Liu is said to have kept an Apple computer and bragged about accessing network storage, while Pang allegedly expressed readiness to assist. OpenAI denies the accusations, and Apple maintains a strong stance, labeling OpenAI “rotten to its core.” The commentary notes that the case is just beginning, with depositions pending, and urges viewers to follow for updates.

Chapters

This could be the worst thing that's ever happened to OpenAI's reputation. And as your Silicon Valley gossip girl, let me explain what's going on. This all began last Friday when Apple filed a federal lawsuit accusing OpenAI of stealing its trade secrets. And according to Apple, it wasn't even a singular incident, but a coordinated effort happening across every level of OpenAI. From its 41 pages of complaints here, there are 3 key people. We have Tang Tan, former Apple vice president and current OpenAI chief hardware officer. Next is Chang Liu, former Apple engineer for 8 years who joined OpenAI 7 months ago. And then we have Alyssa Pang, former Apple employee who joined OpenAI 3 months ago. According to the report, Tan, the OpenAI hardware chief, was asking for Apple's trade secrets when interviewing OpenAI candidates who came from Apple. He even allegedly asked candidates to bring hardware product samples from Apple and prepare in-depth technical slides on confidential information. The craziest part to me was that he was messaging Apple employees on their work devices, allegedly, of course. Liu apparently knew about this whole operation that Tan was running, and he allegedly helped Peng prepare for those interviews. Apple also claims that Tan kept an internal document to help employees from Apple avoid Apple security checks when they left. The tactics include not disclosing their new employer, not signing any document, and not scheduling a standard exit interview with Apple's security officers. Thanks to those instructions, potentially, Liu somehow managed to keep an Apple-owned computer after joining OpenAI, and he even bragged to Pang allegedly, "LOL, I found out I can access network storage. So funny." To which Pang allegedly replied, "I'm ready." There is so much detail here, it's actually crazy. But OpenAI is denying all of these charges. Apple is not backing down, calling OpenAI rotten to its core, which is some clever wordplay if you ask me. All of this has just begun, and we have to wait till the deposition to hear what's next. So follow if you want any updates.