Apple’s partnership with OpenAI, announced at WWDC, will see ChatGPT integrated into iOS 18. While no financial transactions are involved, Apple will gain an “observer role” on OpenAI’s board of directors.
Phil Schiller, Apple’s long-time marketing chief and now an Apple Fellow, has been selected for this position.
Apple’s observer role on the OpenAI board is similar to that of Microsoft, OpenAI’s main backer and artificial intelligence (AI) technology provider.
This position allows Schiller to attend board meetings and gain insights into decision-making processes without having voting rights.
This new arrangement, expected to start later this year, has not yet seen Schiller attend any OpenAI board meetings. Details of the agreement might still change, according to Bloomberg.
Schiller transitioned to an Apple Fellow role in 2020, continuing to oversee the App Store and Apple events, and reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook. He is also leading Apple’s efforts to address antitrust issues related to the App Store globally.
The partnership between Apple and OpenAI, revealed in June, brings ChatGPT to iOS 18 as part of Apple’s Intelligence suite. According to Bloomberg, neither company is paying the other for this collaboration.
Apple values the exposure ChatGPT will receive in iOS 18 as being equivalent to monetary compensation.
