Discovery (litigation)

In US litigation, discovery is the process in which parties exchange evidence before trial. It includes producing documents and data, answering written questions under oath, and sitting for depositions. Judges resolve disputes about what must be handed over.

In AI cases, discovery can reveal how a company collected training data, what executives knew, and how products were tested. Much of what the public learns about these cases comes from documents unsealed during this stage.

A discovery order is a procedural ruling about evidence. It is not a finding that anyone broke the law.