A judge ruled that Apple will be able to obtain more quickly the recruitment materials related to OpenAI, which are connected to a lawsuit regarding trade secrets filed by Apple in July this year.

Specifically, the court will allow Apple to access documents related to former Apple employees who applied to join OpenAI's consumer hardware and robotics team before the OpenAI interviews, which predates the release of OpenAI's first hardware device as rumored by the public.

These files may include interview checklists, guides, instructions, manuals, and scripts, as well as technical demonstration materials and records, showing whether Apple technology or components were mentioned during the interview discussions.

The court requires OpenAI to submit the materials they have collected within 5 days, and to provide any additional materials related to this request within 14 days, agreeing with Apple's statement that the disclosure of these documents should be accelerated.

At the time of this incident, OpenAI was developing a consumer-grade hardware device; if this AI device ultimately becomes central to consumers' lives and their interaction with software and services, it may one day compete with iPhone – or smartphones in a broader sense.

In the lawsuit, Apple accused OpenAI of a series of thefts, including direct allegations that former employees used Apple laptops to download confidential materials and files containing information on unannounced technologies, features, and products, such as technical specifications, engineering demonstrations, and proprietary project data.

Apple also stated that former Apple employees within OpenAI had advised others who were considering leaving Apple to join OpenAI about what information to bring during interviews, among other allegations.

U.S. District Judge Edward Davila did not approve Apple's request to expedite the acquisition of all case-related OpenAI documents and messages. However, he ruled that Apple may obtain interview materials, as well as private LINE messages between relevant parties in the case (from a communication app), which include messages between OpenAI employees Chang Liu and Alyssa Peng.

The judge also approved the collection of testimonies from Liu, Peng, and a third individual, OpenAI, who is the Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan. All three are former employees of Apple.

However, the judge rejected Apple's request to expedite the acquisition of research and development information on specific areas such as metal surface treatment and power management by OpenAI. He also denied several of Apple's broader requests for evidence disclosure, such as obtaining hardware research related to OpenAI or learning about what its former employees created during their time at OpenAI.

But this rejection is not the final decision; the judge stated that Apple may resubmit its request after narrowing down its scope.