On July 20, Bloomberg broke the news that Apple had initiated legal proceedings against OpenAI, alleging the theft of trade secrets. However, notably absent from the lawsuit was Jony Ive, Apple's former chief designer, who had been collaborating with OpenAI on the development of AI hardware. The rationale behind Apple's decision not to implicate Ive lies in the fact that he was not implicated in the purported theft. His involvement was primarily centered on product design, steering clear of core operational domains such as recruitment, engineering, and overall business operations.

Furthermore, Ive shares a close bond with Lauren Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. This personal connection likely played a pivotal role in Apple's strategic choice to sidestep any legal action that could potentially strain this important interpersonal relationship and incite unfavorable public sentiment. By taking this approach, Apple not only weakens the foundational support for OpenAI's hardware endeavors but also skillfully avoids the risk of casting Ive as a martyr within the industry.