Apple has sued OpenAI, alleging trade secret theft in a scheme it describes as operating 'at every level,' according to CNBC. The two companies partnered in 2024 to integrate ChatGPT into the iPhone's operating system. OpenAI's response was not included in the available reporting, and the allegations have not been tested in court.
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Key facts
- Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI alleging trade secret theft, according to CNBC.
- Apple describes the alleged scheme as operating 'at every level.'
- The two companies entered a high-profile partnership in 2024.
- ChatGPT was integrated into the iPhone's operating system as part of that partnership.
- The report was published by CNBC on 10 July 2026.
- OpenAI's response was not included in the available reporting; the allegations are untested in court.
Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI alleging trade secret theft, according to CNBC. The complaint accuses OpenAI of a scheme that Apple says operated ‘at every level.’
The legal action follows a period of public cooperation between the two firms. As CNBC reports, they entered a high-profile partnership in 2024 that brought OpenAI’s ChatGPT into the iPhone’s operating system.
The specific claims and evidence underpinning Apple’s allegation were not detailed in the available reporting.
OpenAI’s response to the allegations was not included in the available source material. As with any lawsuit, the claims represent one party’s allegations and have not been tested or proven in court.
Why it matters
Apple and OpenAI are among the most closely watched companies in consumer technology and artificial intelligence, and a legal dispute between former partners is likely to draw significant attention. Further details of the claims and OpenAI's response were not available in the reporting reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
What is Apple accusing OpenAI of?
According to CNBC, Apple has sued OpenAI alleging trade secret theft, describing the alleged scheme as operating 'at every level.'
When did Apple and OpenAI partner?
CNBC reports the two companies entered a high-profile partnership in 2024, when ChatGPT was integrated into the iPhone's operating system.
Has OpenAI responded to the lawsuit?
OpenAI's response was not included in the available source material, and the allegations have not been tested or proven in court.
Timeline
- Apple sues OpenAI, its employees claiming theft of trade secrets
BBC Technology: Apple said in a Friday lawsuit that OpenAI’s nascent hardware business is “rotten to its core.”
- Apple sues OpenAI alleging trade secret theft, says scheme was 'at every level'
CNBC Top News: The two companies entered into a high-profile partnership in 2024 when ChatGPT was integrated into the iPhone's operating system.