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Hard ForkHard Fork

The Legal Face-off Between Apple and OpenAI

This week, feuding between some of the biggest tech companies spilled into public view.

Kevin RoosehostCasey Newtonhost
Jul 17, 20261h 5mWatch on YouTube

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Episode Details

EPISODE INFO

Released
July 17, 2026
Duration
1h 5m
Channel
Hard Fork
Watch on YouTube
▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

This week, feuding between some of the biggest tech companies spilled into public view. We discuss Apple’s accusation that OpenAI tried to steal secrets about Apple’s hardware business, as well as share our reactions to OpenAI’s new model, Sol, and Anthropic’s decision to extend access to its model Fable. Then, we unpack the loudest warning yet about A.I. and jobs. We talk with Erik Brynjolfsson, a Stanford economist, about a statement he helped organize that implores economists and A.I. researchers to “act now” to steer A.I. in a direction that complements humans. And finally, we play a round of HatGPT! Guest: Erik Brynjolfsson, senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered A.I. and director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. Additional Reading: Apple Sues OpenAI, Accusing It of Stealing Company Secrets https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/technology/apple-openai-lawsuit.html OpenAI’s First Device Will Be Movable, Screenless Speaker Built as A.I. Companion https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-14/openai-s-first-device-will-be-moveable-screenless-speaker-built-as-ai-companion Nearly 200 Economists and Tech Leaders Warn of A.I. Threats https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/business/economists-ai-threat-jobs.html The Loudest Warning About A.I. and Jobs Yet https://www.platformer.news/ai-jobs-warning-brynjolfsson-acemoglu/?ref=platformer-newsletter OpenAI Is Showing Kalshi’s World Cup Odds in ChatGPT https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/technology/kalshi-openai-chatgpt-world-cup-odds.html New York Enacts Nation’s First Statewide Moratorium on Data Centers https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/nyregion/new-york-data-center-moratorium-hochul.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share Brown Professor Suspects Majority of His Class Used A.I. to Cheat https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty/learning-assessment/2026/07/08/brown-professor-suspects-most-his-class-used-ai-cheat MiniMax CEO Vows to Forgo Salary Until Achieving A.G.I. https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/minimax-ceo-vows-forgo-salary-achieving-agi Lorde Speaks Out — With Expletives — Against A.I. Glasses https://stereogum.com/2504954/lorde-speaks-out-against-fucked-up-ai-glasses/news Nearly 6 in 10 Young Women Get Health and Wellness Information From Influencers https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/07/13/nearly-6-in-10-young-women-get-health-and-wellness-information-from-influencers/ Meta Removes A.I. Feature on Instagram After Days of Backlash https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/technology/meta-muse-images-instagram-removal.html?eafs_enabled=false FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardfork Insta: Kevin Roose - https://www.instagram.com/kevinroose/ Casey Newton - https://www.instagram.com/crumbler/ Twitter (X): Kevin - https://x.com/kevinroose Casey - https://x.com/CaseyNewton Threads: Kevin - https://www.threads.net/@kevinroose Casey - https://www.threads.net/@crumbler Subscribe to the audio only podcast: Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hard-fork/id1528594034 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/44fllCS2FTFr2x2kjP9xeT?si=86ba626802b849cd Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c7fe198-e6a8-41a8-b0fe-1d46b976dcd8/hard-fork YouTube Music - https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB9gMmtMLXxsa8C0PzHFL2tJFh7FrKrYD&si=Fwb9Uwon1ZneNsBp The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/column/hard-fork Credits “Hard Fork” is hosted by Kevin Roose and Casey Newton. Produced by Rachel Cohn and Whitney Jones. We’re edited by Vjeran Pavic. Engineering by Chris Wood and original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Sophia Lanman and Rowan Niemisto. Fact-checking by Caitlin Love. Video production by Chris Schodt and Sawyer Roque. Video QC by Isabella Anderson. Podcast Art Direction by Benjamin Wilkerson Tousley. Podcast Art & Animations by Julian Hespenheide. Additional Motion graphics by Phil Robibero. Thumbnails by Julia Moburg, Elizabeth Bristow, and Benjamin Wilkerson Tousley. Special thanks to Brooke Minters, Paula Szuchman, Pui-Wing Tam and Dahlia Haddad.

SPEAKERS

  • Kevin Roose

    host

    Tech journalist at The New York Times and co-host of Hard Fork.

  • Casey Newton

    host

    Tech journalist and co-host of Hard Fork.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Hard Fork, featuring Kevin Roose and Casey Newton, The Legal Face-off Between Apple and OpenAI explores Apple sues OpenAI as model rivalry fuels broader AI tensions The hosts discuss OpenAI executive turnover, focusing on Fiji Simo’s departure after medical leave and what it signals about ongoing leadership turbulence.

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