OpenAI considers legal action against Apple over iPhone ChatGPT deal

In short: OpenAI is considering legal action against Apple, saying Apple is not doing enough to follow through on their deal to bring ChatGPT into the iPhone.

What happened

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is exploring legal options tied to its partnership with Apple, according to people familiar with the situation. The companies agreed in 2024 to integrate ChatGPT into iPhones.

The concern from OpenAI is that Apple has not invested enough time and staff to deliver what OpenAI expected from the partnership. One person described what they see as a pattern where Apple benefits from its position, but does not put in the work needed to improve and promote the ChatGPT integration.

The current deal lets iPhone users get ChatGPT answers through Siri for certain requests. It also connects ChatGPT to Apple’s writing tools, which can help rewrite text.

Tension has increased as Apple has also partnered with Google to use its Gemini models, which are large AI systems (think of them like very large prediction engines trained on lots of text) that power parts of “Apple Intelligence,” Apple’s set of AI features. Apple is also expected to update its software later this year so users can choose from multiple outside AI models.

OpenAI has also hired staff from Apple’s AI team, and it has hired former Apple design chief Jony Ive to work on a new device that could compete with the iPhone.

Why it matters

The iPhone has more than 1 billion users, so being deeply built into iPhone features can decide which AI assistant people use day to day. If the partnership breaks down or ends up in court, iPhone users could see changes in how, or whether, ChatGPT shows up in Siri and writing tools.

Source: Financial Times