OpenAI weighs legal action against Apple over ChatGPT integration disputes
The dispute highlights the risks of platform dependency, echoing Apple’s history of friction with major software partners including Google, Adobe, and Spotify.
OpenAI is reportedly preparing to take legal action against Apple following a breakdown in their partnership over the ChatGPT integration, according to a report by Bloomberg. The artificial intelligence company has enlisted an outside law firm to assess its legal position, with options that may include issuing a formal breach-of-contract notice. This development underscores the growing tensions between the two tech giants over subscriber growth and the prominence of the AI service within Apple’s ecosystem.
The partnership, announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2024, integrated ChatGPT into Siri and the iPhone’s Visual Intelligence feature. While OpenAI initially anticipated the deal would generate billions in new subscriptions and provide prime real estate on one of the world’s most widely used mobile platforms, the company has become increasingly frustrated. Bloomberg reports that OpenAI’s grievances include the integration being effectively buried within the operating system, features that are difficult for users to locate, and revenue figures that have fallen significantly short of projections.
Apple has also raised concerns regarding the relationship, citing issues with OpenAI’s privacy standards and irritation over the AI firm’s ambitions in hardware. This hardware push is being led by former Apple executives, including former design chief Jony Ive. An OpenAI executive described the dynamic to Bloomberg, noting that the company was asked to take a leap of faith in the partnership, a move that reportedly did not yield the expected positive results.
The potential legal escalation is expected to be delayed until after the conclusion of OpenAI’s ongoing trial with Elon Musk. The lawsuit, which accuses OpenAI of abandoning its nonprofit founding mission and operating in bad faith, remains a significant focus for the company. Any move against Apple will likely wait for the trial to conclude, ensuring that legal resources are not stretched too thin across multiple high-profile disputes.
This dispute fits into a broader pattern of Apple’s history with major software partners. The company has previously alienated key allies, including Google, whose Maps application was removed from iOS in 2012 following tensions exacerbated by the launch of Android. Adobe also faced exclusion when Steve Jobs refused to support Flash on iOS devices in 2010, effectively ending its mobile dominance. More recently, Spotify engaged in a long-running dispute with Apple over App Store practices, resulting in a €1.8 billion fine by the European Commission in March 2024.
Despite these historical frictions, commercial interests have occasionally led to reconciliation. Google currently serves as Apple’s AI infrastructure partner, paying approximately $1 billion annually to power Apple Intelligence with Gemini models. Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to navigate strained relations with Microsoft, its primary infrastructure backer, as it seeks greater independence ahead of potential initial public offering ambitions.
