OpenAI and Apple: A Broken Alliance, Heading Towards a Legal Battle

OpenAI Contemplates Legal Action Against Apple

OpenAI is preparing to file lawsuits against Apple, a decision driven by the failure of their partnership regarding the integration of ChatGPT into Siri. This agreement, signed in 2024, was intended to be a major strategic collaboration, but the expected results have not materialized, causing frustration within the startup. According to Bloomberg, OpenAI's legal team is working with an external firm to explore several legal options, including sending a notice of breach of contract. This escalation comes just weeks before WWDC 2026, highlighting the deterioration of relations between the two companies.

A Disappointing Partnership

In 2024, the integration of ChatGPT into Siri and the iOS 18 ecosystem seemed promising. OpenAI hoped to achieve billions of dollars in revenue through this agreement, particularly via paid subscriptions accessible directly from iPhone settings. However, these financial goals have not been met. An OpenAI executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration, stating that Apple had not fulfilled its commitments. Apple, for its part, viewed this agreement as an opportunity to gain credible AI backing without having to develop its own models.

Unmet Expectations

The initial agreement between OpenAI and Apple lacked clarity regarding how the integration of ChatGPT would take shape. Apple had asked OpenAI to demonstrate trust, but that trust proved to be misplaced. OpenAI hoped for deeper integration within Apple applications and greater visibility within Siri, expectations that have not been fulfilled. It is important to note that the agreement did not include any direct payments from Apple to OpenAI. The only compensation for OpenAI came from commissions on ChatGPT subscriptions taken out via the iPhone, leaving OpenAI to bear infrastructure costs without guaranteed revenue.

Growing Rivalry

The situation became even more complicated with Apple's announcement of the integration of Google Gemini into iOS 27, as well as the possibility for other models like Claude from Anthropic to be integrated into Siri. Although the initial agreement with OpenAI was not exclusive, this openness to competition has exacerbated tensions. Meanwhile, Apple has been displeased with OpenAI's aggressive recruitment practices, which have attracted many Apple engineers to its own hardware projects, led by former design chief Jony Ive. The Cupertino firm has been fuming for over a year about these practices, turning the two companies into rivals as much as they are disappointed partners.

According to Bloomberg, no definitive decision has been made yet, but OpenAI still hopes for an amicable resolution, although optimism is limited.