In an interview, OpenAI CTO Mira Murati responded to Elon Musk's denouncement of Apple's OpenAI deal, saying OpenAI cares deeply about user privacy and security
FortuneVerne Kopytoff
Context & Ripple Effects
Mira Murati’s response places Apple’s OpenAI arrangement in a widening argument over whether the lab’s commercial direction remains compatible with its safety commitments. Her earlier discussion of AI safety, regulation, and competition provides the relevant backdrop for a privacy-and-security defense.
OpenAI must publicly defend its privacy and security posture as Apple’s deal becomes a focal point for criticism from Musk.
Apple’s association with OpenAI inherits some of the reputational scrutiny directed at OpenAI, even though Murati’s comments are a direct rebuttal.
Second-order effects
The dispute raises the value of clear privacy and security assurances for AI providers seeking distribution through major consumer platforms.
Competing AI providers can frame trust, data handling, and safety commitments as differentiators when platform partnerships are contested publicly.
Third-order effects
If major platform-model partnerships routinely trigger trust disputes, privacy and security claims may become a central competitive requirement for consumer AI distribution, not merely a policy statement.
The episode points toward AI partnerships being judged simultaneously on product utility and on who controls model access and associated security boundaries.
The trend: Consumer AI distribution is increasingly turning platform partnerships into tests of model-provider trust, privacy, and security governance.
It's patently absurd that Apple isn't smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy! Apple has no clue what's actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They're selling you down the river.
“As we discovered in November with the non-profit board structure that we had, the non-profit board structure didn't have accountability to anybody but themselves,” OpenAI CTO @miramurati says at the #FortuneMPW dinner in San Francisco. https://fortune.com/... [image]
On Elon Musk's criticism of OpenAI and Apple's partnership, @miramurati says: “That's his opinion.” “We care deeply about the privacy of our users and the safety of our products...the track record of our products being deployed safely is very strong.” #FortuneMPW | [image]
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OpenAI CTO @miramurati speaking with @mlevram at @FortuneMPW dinner in SF. “There are always risks. Whenever you have something so powerful you have to deal with the downsides” [image]
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“We have a lot more to do here.” @OpenAI CTO @miramurati joined the #FortuneMPW dinner in San Francisco to discuss where her company is headed next. https://fortune.com/... [image]