Apple and OpenAI alliance is cracking — legal proceedings are being prepared

The Apple-OpenAI partnership signed two years ago is now experiencing a serious crisis. According to Bloomberg sources, the startup is disappointed with the results of the collaboration and is preparing possible legal action against the tech giant. This could become one of the largest battles in the developing AI industry.

Partnership History

Two years ago, the announcement of Apple and OpenAI's collaboration seemed like a historic moment in technology. Apple announced that it would integrate ChatGPT directly into iOS, iPadOS and macOS, providing users with access to an advanced AI assistant. Both companies claimed mutual benefit: Apple gets a powerful AI engine, OpenAI gets access to hundreds of millions of users worldwide. On paper, it looked like an ideal alliance. Apple has a massive ecosystem, OpenAI possesses cutting-edge technology. Together, they seemed capable of creating an AI service that would eclipse all competitors, from Google to Microsoft.

Disappointed Expectations

However, reality proved far more complex. OpenAI expected that deep integration with iPhone and Mac would lead to explosive growth in paid ChatGPT Pro subscriptions. This did not happen.

Apple users did indeed get quick access to ChatGPT through Siri and built-in integrations, but this does not motivate them to pay for premium. At the same time, OpenAI found itself in a strange position — powerful, but invisible. The startup has no direct contact with users, cannot see data about their behavior, cannot offer its own services or conclude third-party integrations.

In essence, OpenAI became a regular plugin in the Apple ecosystem — a good plugin, but still subordinate. This is particularly painful for OpenAI in the context of competitors growing faster. Google launched Gemini on Android and in Chrome.

Microsoft embedded Copilot directly into Windows. Meanwhile, OpenAI remains a hostage to its agreement with Apple, lacking its own distribution channel in the mobile segment.

• No direct access to user data
• Apple controls the terms and pricing of integration
• Lack of an independent distribution channel
• Blurred service identity within another's platform
• Inability to flexibly expand functionality

Legal Action on the Horizon

OpenAI is now considering the possibility of legal action. Potential claims could include breach of contract, unfair revenue sharing, or anti-competitive behavior by Apple — for example, hidden preference for Apple's own AI services over ChatGPT or restriction of competitors' integration. Apple will likely defend its position that the partnership is proceeding in accordance with the contract and OpenAI is simply unhappy with fair market conditions. The legal battle promises to be long, expensive, and difficult for both sides.

What This Means

The collapse of the Apple-OpenAI alliance highlights a fundamental tension in the AI industry: even the most successful startups remain vulnerable to megaplatforms. Apple, Google and Microsoft control device ecosystems — and therefore control the fate of any services they decide to integrate. This may accelerate growing debates about the need to regulate dominant platforms and fair distribution of power in the AI industry.