Apple joins OpenAi board of directors. After the announcement, which arrived a month ago at WWDC, of the integration of ChatGpt on the iPhone, in the iPad and Mac as part of a suite of artificial intelligence functions, the relationship between the two becomes even closer. And so Phil Schiller, responsible for Apple's App Store, will join the OpenAi board in the role of observer. An unexpected news, also considering that the main financier of the startup is Microsoft, Cupertino's number one rival, which currently occupies the exact same role.
Apple: Schiller's role in OpenAi
Based on what was announced, by the end of the year Schiller will join the OpenAi board as an observer, de facto putting Apple on the same level as Microsoft which has so far invested 13 billion dollars in the company led by Sam Altman, also playing a decisive role at the end of 2023 when CEO Sam Altman was shown the door by the former board of directors .
The current number one in the Apple Store will have no decision-making power or voting rights, but will hold an informal position, attending meetings and getting a feel for how decisions are made within the startup.
Currently on the OpenAi board, chaired by president Bret Taylor, are co-founder Sam Altman, Adam D'Angelo, Sue Desmond-Hellmann, Paul M. Nakasone, Nicole Seligman, former president of Sony Entertainment, Fidji Simo and Larry Summers. Microsoft, as mentioned, participates in the role of observer.
A question arises spontaneously: what will happen when OpenAi advisors have to discuss the development of generative artificial intelligence for Microsoft or the integration of ChatGpt into Apple products with the two rivals sitting there, at the same table, watching?
Only last month, in fact, Cupertino announced a partnership with the company led by Sam Altman under which the world's most famous chatbot will be integrated into iPhones, iPads and Macs as part of a suite of artificial intelligence functions. The agreement does not involve any outlay of money, but it will be beneficial for both sides, given that OpenAi will have the opportunity to access hundreds of millions of potential users.
Recall also that Apple is also in talks with Google and Anthropic for possible additional chatbots to be included in Apple Intelligence.