Apple Joins OpenAI Board of Directors as part of a deal that ensures ChatGPT will be used on iPhones. The tech giant will have an observer role, ensuring its presence at all meetings of the AI company. The Cupertino residents will sit at the table next to Microsoft, which already has a seat on the board following a multimillion-dollar investment it made in 2023.
In accordance with BloombergOpenAI will offer Apple a seat on its board of directors. The two companies signed a special agreement to integrate ChatGPT into iOS 18, which was made official during WWDC 2024. App Store CEO Phil Schiller to Observea role that will allow him to attend board meetings but without the right to vote on decisions.
Journalist Mark Gurman mentions this. This decision strengthens the relationship between both companies. Schiller will sit down with Dee Templeton, vice president of technology and research partnerships and operations at Microsoft. The former Apple marketing chief’s arrival has not been officially announced, so the information is a rumor.
Although observers do not have the same legal responsibilities as board members, they can influence decision-making. This could cause friction between Apple and Microsofttwo titans vying for leadership in the tech industry. Both companies have signed contracts with OpenAI to gain access to their language models under licensing agreements.
Microsoft and Apple to Face Off at OpenAI Meetup
Microsoft gets board observer seatafter a soap opera that ended with the temporary dismissal of Sam Altman. The tech company was the first to support the CEO when the former board forced him out of his post. Microsoft offered Altman the chance to lead its artificial intelligence division, but the OpenAI co-founder did not want to leave his former company.
Upon his return, Sam Altman confirmed that Microsoft would have a seat on the board of directors, but not as a member.
“While our partnership with Microsoft involves a multi-million dollar investment, OpenAI remains a completely independent company, run by the OpenAI non-profit. Microsoft is a non-voting observer on the board and has no control.”
A board observer is someone who invited to board meetings without voting rights about any decision. Although observers do not have the same responsibilities as members, they can influence management. The main benefit for Apple and Microsoft is that will have access to OpenAI’s confidential information.
OpenAI’s board of directors includes Bret Taylor, Sam Altman, Adam D’Angelo, Sue Desmond-Hellmann, Paul M. Nakasone, Nicole Seligman, Fiji Simo, and Larry Summers.
Source: Hiper Textual
I’m Ben Stock, a highly experienced and passionate journalist with a career in the news industry spanning more than 10 years. I specialize in writing content for websites, including researching and interviewing sources to produce engaging articles. My current role is as an author at Gadget Onus, where I mainly cover the mobile section.
