OpenAI vs Apple: Lawsuit Ready Over Failed Siri Agreement

OpenAI's lawyers are working closely with an external firm to formalize a legal dispute against Apple. At the center of the disagreement is the agreement signed in 2024 for the integration of ChatGPT within iOS 18, which, according to the executives of the San Francisco startup, has proven to be a commercial failure due to obstructionism or indifference from Cupertino.

According to Bloomberg, OpenAI is considering various options, including the formal notification of a breach of contract as a preliminary step towards an actual lawsuit. OpenAI believes it has upheld every commitment regarding product development, while Apple allegedly has not made any honest effort to enhance the partnership. The startup expected that distribution within Apple's vast mobile ecosystem would drive millions of users to subscribe to ChatGPT's premium service, generating billions of dollars in annual revenue. However, the actual figures have not approached these projections, despite the option to subscribe directly through iPhone settings.

OpenAI is close to formalizing legal action against Apple. The executives describe a relationship that began under bad auspices. During initial negotiations, Apple reportedly refused to show the details of the final integration, asking OpenAI for a true 'leap of faith.' This trust now appears misplaced, especially considering that the agreement does not entail direct monetary exchanges, except for the percentage Apple retains from the generated subscriptions.

The tension is not limited to software. Apple has been literally furious for over a year due to OpenAI's recruiting tactics, which have lured away numerous key engineers from Cupertino to redirect them to their own hardware projects. This division, led by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, poses a direct threat to the core business of Apple's devices.

At the same time, OpenAI has been dissatisfied with Apple’s strategy of opening up to competition. At the upcoming WWDC, a new Siri enhanced by Google Gemini is expected to be announced, while reports on iOS 27 suggest deep integrations with Anthropic's Claude. Although exclusivity was not part of the original contract, OpenAI feels 'burned' by the experience and has no intention of collaborating on new technical implementations.

Currently, ChatGPT serves as a fallback for Siri in general knowledge queries and is integrated into functions like Image Playgrounds and Visual Intelligence, but this is no longer sufficient for Sam Altman. While OpenAI still hopes to resolve the issue outside the courtroom, the startup intends to emphasize that Apple's market power does not justify the lack of support for a partner that made its cutting-edge technology available without receiving the promised distribution in return. Unfortunately, the legal clash seems to be the only way to renegotiate the terms of an alliance that has never truly worked.