Apple to Get Observer Role on OpenAI Board [Report]

Apple will get an observer role on OpenAI's board as part of its deal to integrate ChatGPT capabilities into iOS 18, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

Phil Schiller, the head of Apple's App Store and its former marketing chief, was chosen for the position, according to people familiar with the situation. As a board observer, he won't be serving as a full-fledged director, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter isn't public.

As of now, Schiller hasn't attended any meetings, but the arrangement is set to begin later this year. The role will put Apple on par with Microsoft, OpenAI's biggest backer and main technology partner. Schiller will be able to attend meetings and gain insights on decisions made at the company; however, he will not be able to vote or exercise other director powers.


Having both Microsoft and Apple at board meetings could get complicated, as the two companies are often in direct competition. Additionally, discussions about future initiatives between OpenAI and Microsoft could create situations where Microsoft would want Apple excluded from certain conversations.

ChatGPT will come to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia later this year, powered by GPT-4o. Users can access it for free without creating an account, and ChatGPT subscribers can connect their accounts and access paid features. Key capabilities include Siri integration for enhanced responses, systemwide Writing Tools for content generation, and image creation capabilities through Compose. You can learn more about the new Apple Intelligence features here.

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