OpenAI has turned to legal counsel following a disappointing rollout of its ChatGPT technology inside Apple’s Siri. The partnership, announced with high hopes of generating billions in subscription revenue, has instead left the AI firm feeling “burned,” according to sources speaking on condition of anonymity.
When Apple first unveiled the integration, executives likened it to the company’s historic deal that embedded Google Search in Safari. OpenAI executives expected the new link between Siri and ChatGPT to open a massive mobile audience and unlock a lucrative revenue stream. The promise of “billions of dollars per year” in subscriptions drove the AI firm to sign the agreement without fully understanding the technical details, a source told Bloomberg.
Design choices hinder user adoption
OpenAI’s frustration centers on how Apple built the feature. Users must explicitly say or type the word “ChatGPT” when invoking Siri, a requirement that sources say adds friction and reduces discoverability. Apple also opted for small response windows that display limited information, making it easy for users to overlook the AI’s output. Those design decisions, insiders claim, effectively mute the value of the integration.
“When we heard about this opportunity, it sounded amazing: being able to acquire a giant number of customers and have distribution in such a big mobile ecosystem,” an OpenAI executive recalled. The optimism faded as Apple’s rollout failed to promote the feature, leaving many iPhone users unaware of its existence.
OpenAI weighs legal options
Feeling shortchanged, OpenAI has reportedly engaged an outside law firm to explore a range of actions that could be executed soon. The firm’s counsel is said to be reviewing the partnership agreement for potential breaches, including Apple’s alleged failure to market the integration and its lack of transparency during negotiations.
Efforts to renegotiate the deal have stalled, Reuters reported, and OpenAI has reportedly turned down further collaborations on Apple’s own AI models. “We have done everything from a product perspective,” the OpenAI executive said to Bloomberg. “They have not, and worse, they haven’t even made an honest effort.”
The fallout may have broader implications for tech partnerships. Companies that rely on platform owners for distribution now face heightened scrutiny over contract terms and product rollout strategies. As OpenAI evaluates its next steps, the episode underscores the risks of “leap‑of‑faith” deals in a fast‑moving AI market.
Este artículo fue escrito con la asistencia de IA.
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