Phil Schiller secures an observer seat for Apple on the OpenAI board

According to Bloomberg reports, Apple has secured a seat on OpenAI's board, solidifying their partnership. Phil Schiller, App Store chief and former marketing head, will serve as an observer, granting Apple similar privileges to OpenAI's main investor, Microsoft. Schiller, a longtime member of Apple's executive team, will attend board meetings but won't have voting rights. This development follows Apple's recent announcement at WWDC that it will integrate OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot into its devices, enabling Siri to manage apps, rewrite emails, and summarize notifications with user consent. Unlike Microsoft's monetary investment in OpenAI, Apple's collaboration focuses on leveraging its vast user base to benefit both parties.

Apple's board role at OpenAI could impact Microsoft partnership

According to Bloomberg, Apple's recent board seat acquisition at OpenAI, alongside Microsoft, may complicate future AI collaborations involving Microsoft if discussions require Phil Schiller's absence. This move is unconventional, as Apple executives typically don't hold board roles in collaborating companies, highlighting Apple's increasing AI strategy importance and competitive stance. Despite concerns over Apple's recent performance, including minimal growth and withdrawal from the EV market, Schiller's new role signifies Apple's commitment to AI leadership and integration with major industry players like OpenAI.