Apple’s Phil Schiller is reportedly joining OpenAI’s board

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses Apple's decision to have Phil Schiller, the App Store chief and former marketing head, represent the company on OpenAI's nonprofit board. Schiller will have an observer role, allowing him to attend board meetings but not vote or act as a director. This move is seen as a way for Apple to learn more about OpenAI's inner workings as the company plans to integrate ChatGPT into iOS and macOS later this year. The article also mentions that Microsoft has also joined OpenAI's board in a non-voting observer position, which could make discussions with either company more complex.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Apple's Representation on OpenAI's Board

1. What is the role of Phil Schiller on OpenAI's board?

• Phil Schiller, the App Store chief and former marketing head at Apple, will represent Apple on OpenAI's nonprofit board in an observer role.
• This means he can attend board meetings but cannot vote or act as a director.

2. What is the purpose of Apple's representation on OpenAI's board?

• Joining the board will allow Schiller to learn more about the inner workings of OpenAI as Apple works to build ChatGPT into iOS and macOS later this year.
• The integration will allow the AI-supercharged Siri to punt more advanced queries to ChatGPT if users grant permission.

3. Is there any financial involvement between Apple and OpenAI currently?

• No, there is currently no money involved in the partnership between Apple and OpenAI.
• However, Apple is expected to get a percentage of ChatGPT subscriptions made through its platforms in the future.

[02] Microsoft's Representation on OpenAI's Board

1. What is Microsoft's role on OpenAI's board?

• Microsoft has also joined the board that controls OpenAI in a non-voting observer position.

2. How does Microsoft's and Apple's representation on OpenAI's board impact the company?

• Having both Apple and Microsoft on OpenAI's board could make discussing plans with either company more complex.
• As the article notes, it's quite rare for Apple executives to take board seats at companies they partner with.