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

[MacRumors]

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.

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.

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

 

[Think|Different]

Oh, wow.....This should be interesting.

 

[Account25476]

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.

 

[now i see it]

So a former marketing guy in the board meetings. Good for him!

 

[Reverend Benny]

"No money is being exchanged under the terms of the arrangement at the current time".....at the current time....

 

[ProbablyDylan]

So not only is Tim not paying them, but one of his agents now get to sit and listen in on board meetings? Interesting

 

[Realityck]

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.

So if that happens in the cloud whats the deal with Apple Intelligence have to be kept local to iPhones? Or is Siri still going to be outside, rather then exclusive to Apple Intelligence?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

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.

 

[coffeemilktea]

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™.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

So if that happens in the cloud whats the deal with Apple Intelligence have to be kept local to iPhones? Or is Siri still going to be outside, rather then exclusive to Apple Intelligence?

Apple Intelligence does most of it's work on-device, only going out to ChatGPT for stuff it can't handle. Think of it like asking your coworker about something you're not super familiar with at work.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

OpenAI is getting paid in exposure and potential paid sign-ups.

Exposure doesn't keep the lights on, and the average person isn't going to pay for something that Siri will only use occasionally.

 

[rafark]

OpenAI is getting paid in exposure and potential paid sign-ups.

Entitled influencer vibes

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Entitled influencer vibes

Well Sam Altman is quite the grifter, so that makes sense.

I personally think it's shameful that Apple is dealing with him.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

Nothing to see here. 😂

 

[The_Gream]

Exposure doesn't keep the lights on, and the average person isn't going to pay for something that Siri will only use occasionally.

Good thing there are not “average” people out there.

I am just glad my fingers still work enough, that I can still type what I am looking for in a search bar.

 

[B4U]

Dang, AI this, AI that. When is it going to stop? 🤣

 

[kirbyrun]

Apple Intelligence does most of it's work on-device, only going out to ChatGPT for stuff it can't handle. Think of it like asking your coworker about something you're not super familiar with at work.

There's an interstitial component to that -- most AI is done on-device, but when the device can't handle it, it goes out to Apple's Private Cloud Compute for extra muscle. ChatGPT has to be specifically and explicitly approved by the user.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Phil wants 30% of Sam Altman's soul

 

[ProbablyDylan]

There's an interstitial component to that -- most AI is done on-device, but when the device can't handle it, it goes out to Apple's Private Cloud Compute for extra muscle. ChatGPT has to be specifically and explicitly approved by the user.

Right, I forgot about that bit, thanks!

 

[Octavius8]

I am much more excited about the T9 keyboard in iOS 18 and live stop-watch feature than about Apple branded OpenAI AI party trick. Really. If I need a new phone to run cloud based AI, then forget it. Give me foldable phone with Touch ID and get my money. AI in such closed ecosystem is useless.

 

[iBreatheApple]

On the contrary, Apple usually seems pretty ethical so I’m glad their eyes will be behind closed doors and in the know.

This is what I was hoping for in this thread. Great news.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Phil wants 30% of Sam Altman's soul

Sam Altman doesn't have a soul.

 

[ApostolisApo]

I am sure OpenAI is much more privacy-aware than the abomination of a company called Google and the disgrace of an operating system called Android! Right?

 

[wilhoitm]

I predicted an OpenAI Board seat for Apple! I think Microsoft may have angered OpenAI by the Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella saying... "We are below them, above them, around them. " -Satya on OpenAI

Microsoft bit they hand that fed them and now Apple is on the Board of Directors of OpenAI!

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I am sure OpenAI is much more privacy-aware than the abomination of a company called Google and the disgrace of an operating system called Android!

They are a scummy company in line with Facebook and headed by a thief and grifter.