Apple's Phil Schiller to Serve as OpenAI Board Observer as Part of iOS 18 AI Agreement

Apple Fellow and App Store chief Phil Schiller will take on a board observer position at OpenAI, reports Bloomberg. Apple has been granted an observer role as part of its agreement with OpenAI, which will see ChatGPT integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, and Schiller has been selected for the role.

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A board observer is an informal board position where the participant is able to attend and contribute to board meetings, but is not allowed to vote and has no control. OpenAI has also given a board observer role to Microsoft, so Apple and Microsoft will be on even footing with Schiller's new position.

Given Microsoft's relationship with OpenAI, future board meetings could cover new arrangements between OpenAI and Microsoft, which Bloomberg suggests could cause tension if Schiller is present. Microsoft can request that Schiller be excluded from these meetings, however.

Schiller has not yet attended any OpenAI board meetings and is not set to do so until later in the year.

Apple and OpenAI's deal will see Siri able to hand complicated user requests over to ChatGPT with explicit user permission. OpenAI is not paying Apple to integrate ChatGPT in its operating systems, nor is Apple paying OpenAI. No money is being exchanged under the terms of the arrangement at the current time.

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Top Rated Comments

Think|Different Avatar
10 months ago
Oh, wow.....This should be interesting.

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Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Account25476 Avatar
10 months ago
If it were up to me, I would have kicked him out a long time ago. Arrogant, smug, and hostile towards developers. These people have had their time; now it’s enough. Get out of here.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
10 months ago
At least now, when people ask why OpenAI isn't releasing GPT-5 or why it feels like the competition is out-innovating them, the board can say that it's because Schiller is giving them extra helpings of Courage™. :p
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
now i see it Avatar
10 months ago
So a former marketing guy in the board meetings. Good for him!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reverend Benny Avatar
10 months ago
"No money is being exchanged under the terms of the arrangement at the current time".....at the current time....
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
10 months ago

So not only is Tim not paying them, but one of his agents now get to sit and listen in on board meetings? Interesting
OpenAI is getting paid in exposure and potential paid sign-ups.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)