Apple Sends Warning Letters to 40 OpenAI Hardware Employees: 'Preserve Evidence'

Apple is escalating legal actions against OpenAI's hardware division. Following a large-scale trade secrets infringement lawsuit, the company has sent individual legal warning letters to dozens of former employees now working at OpenAI, demanding preservation of relevant documents, emails, and messaging records. The letters also require meetings with Apple's legal team, targeting approximately 10% of the 400+ OpenAI employees who previously worked at Apple. Legal experts analyze this as a strategy to deter talent acquisition by instilling legal risk fears, though it faces criticism for potentially violating personal privacy and labor rights. Apple and OpenAI have not issued official statements on the matter.