Apple’s plot to crush OpenAI: Apple is suing OpenAI

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Also on The Vergecast: Siri AI is here, OnePlus is leaving, and the cracking face emoji is coming.

Also on The Vergecast: Siri AI is here, OnePlus is leaving, and the cracking face emoji is coming.

by David Pierce

Jul 17, 2026, 5:41 PM UTC

David Pierce

is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.

Apple is suing OpenAI. The complaint is readable and intense, as these things often are, though many experts seem to think many of the allegations are just the ways things are done. So what does Apple really want here, and why is it picking such a public fight with OpenAI?

On this episode of The Vergecast, Nilay and David go through the lawsuit, and look at Apple’s history of splashy litigation to determine whether Apple is worried about a possible competitor or simply looking to capitalize on a weak moment for OpenAI. All this is happening as Apple ships the public betas of its new software, headlined by the new Siri AI, and we have thoughts about what it all means — and whether the new Siri is actually any good.

After all that, the hosts turn to the week’s gadget news, which includes leaks about OpenAI gadgets and Pixel phones, and OnePlus bailing on the US and Europe. The Samsung-Apple duopoly continues to rule in the US, and it looks increasingly hard for anyone to challenge. Unless you just go and buy T-Mobile.

Finally, in the lightning round, we catch up on Brendan Carr, the latest chaos in your X feed, the cracking face emoji, the foothills of the singularity, and more.

In case you missed it this week: We also ranked AI gadgets, listened to AI music, debated our review of the Steam Machine, and learned about AI detectors. And we want to hear all your thoughts about all of it! Call the Vergecast Hotline at 866-VERGE11, send us an email at [email protected], and tell us everything that’s on your mind. And make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

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