Bill Fouche on Sam Altman is disappointed in Apple - 'I wonder if the issues raised in Ronan Farrow’s 04/07/26 New Yorker piece casting doubt on Open AI and Sam Altman’s own trustworthiness might have something to do with Apple’s reluctance to snuggle up. E.g: The “investigative piece underscores a potential longstanding pattern of concerning behavior attributed to Altman, spanning across his career from his early days with Loopt to his pivotal roles at Y Combinator and most controversially, OpenAI. The article delineates a pattern of behaviors such as lying, misrepresentation of safety protocols, and manipulative board tactics, with serious implications for AI governance. The timing of this release coincides with OpenAI’s ambitious projects aimed at advancing AI superintelligence, which amplifies the stakes of the allegations.” “In the broader context, the article highlights the shift OpenAI has undergone from being a nonprofit organization with strict ethical considerations, to its current highly commercialized venture under Altman’s guidance. This transformation allegedly compromised the company’s original mission and created an environment where profits take precedence over safety and ethical considerations. The controversy not only raises ethical concerns but also questions Altman’s leadership, especially given recent critical partnerships like those with the Pentagon.” Yikes! Run, Apple, run! Source: https://opentools.ai/news/the-new-yorker-turns-up-the-heat-on-openais-sam-altman-a-two-decade-saga-of-allegations'
on Sam Altman is disappointed in Apple - 'For general queries on application coding, I’ve had great results with Gemeni, Sticking with Google for now.'
on Sam Altman is disappointed in Apple - 'Wah. wah, wah… Couldn’t happen to a better company… (Says the guy who has “Apple Intelligence DISabled on all his devices….)'
on Blowback from Tim Cook's presence in Trump's China entourage - 'Bart, The Open AI source for the article sounds like it probably was Altman or someone very high up in the food chain because of the comprehensive knowledge of thing going on in the company'
on Blowback from Tim Cook's presence in Trump's China entourage - '“Meanwhile, OpenAI is also developing its own hardware products and has poached many Apple engineers to work on the devices. Additionally, that effort is being led by former Apple design chief Jony Ive. Apple executives “have been fuming for more than a year” over OpenAI’s recruiting tactics.” ((Sounds like a vampire partner, someone who sucks the life out of your engineering teams with outrageous offers, but then par for the course for Altman who felt “I’ve got unlimited resources to throw around to get the talent I need, and Jony knows exactly who at Apple I should pry away from them, 20-40 or so should do.” Here’s Gemini explaining OpenAI’s tactics: OpenAI recruits Apple engineers through a combination of high-stakes, specialized hardware initiatives, aggressive compensation packages, and the allure of working on 0-to-1 consumer AI products with former Apple design chief Jony Ive. Since 2025, OpenAI has hired over 40 Apple engineers, particularly targeting experts in camera, silicon, and hardware design to build a new family of AI devices. Here is how OpenAI targets and attracts Apple talent: 1. The “Jony Ive Effect” and New Hardware Targeted Projects: OpenAI is building a dedicated hardware team to create consumer AI devices (potential smart glasses, wearables, or AI-native devices), allowing Apple engineers to work on “0$\to$1” products, rather than the incremental updates common in large corporations. Leveraging Connections: Following the acquisition of Jony Ive’s hardware startup ‘io’, key former Apple executives, including Tang Tan (formerly Apple hardware engineering) and Evans Hankey (formerly Apple industrial design), were brought on to lead this effort. Direct Poaching: OpenAI has targeted Apple’s core hardware team, including specialists in human interface design, audio, wearables, and camera engineering. 2. High Compensation and Incentives Massive Equity Grants: OpenAI has reportedly offered stock grants worth over $1 million as part of its efforts to attract Apple employees. Bonuses: While Apple has attempted to fight this with out-of-cycle bonuses ($200,000–$400,000), OpenAI’s total compensation package remains highly competitive. High Cash Salaries: According to reports, specialized roles at OpenAI offer base salaries that are highly attractive compared to standard Big Tech compensation. 3. Cultural and Strategic Appeal Reduced Bureaucracy: OpenAI offers a faster-paced, less hierarchical environment compared to Apple, appealing to engineers who feel restricted by Apple’s strict, slow product development cycles. Direct Impact: Candidates are promised the ability to define systems, architecture, and user experiences from scratch. Networking: Many recruits are drawn by the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans like Tang Tan, who are re-creating the intense, collaborative, and, high-impact design culture that was previously characteristic of Apple’s best days. 4. Direct Supply Chain Targeting Tapping Ecosystem Partners: Beyond talent, OpenAI is leveraging Apple’s own supply chain network, working with manufacturers like Luxshare and Goertek to develop their own hardware. This intense hiring, described by sources as a “raiding” of Apple’s ranks, has led to a major brain drain at Apple, prompting Apple to strengthen its own AI efforts.“ I guess if you’re going to partner with Apple and then go raiding and poaching Apple’s engineering talent, you don’t think Apple would be upset and slow roll your ChatGTP integration, and then after getting wind of what you, Ive and now ex-Apple employees are doing for hardware development, you expect to get continued cooperation? Be real, you, Altman, began sabotaging this relationship, poached a lot of Apple personnel (Google and Meta weren’t good enough for you?), and now you’re upset with Apple? We can’t begrudge Tan, Hankey and others for getting whatever they got while the getting was good, it’s generational money and step ups the corporate ladders, you just have to hope the OpenAI stock options will be worth more than those Apple options you may have held. But remember, OpenAI is still a start up, well funded but also burning through a shit-ton of money building out infrastructure, who knows how long that will last? And what about convincing consumer users to add yet another AI device portal to best access OpenAI products and services while they carry and iPhone or Android already. Have you really scoped out the market and demand for such a product? Cause you’re gonna need a lot more than what Google has sold Pixels, or Samsung their Foldables.'
on Premarket: Apple is green - 'The DJIA back above 50K! The S&P 500 sets new records and closes above 7,500 for the first time! Apple takes a breather and closes down $0.66 at $298.21 after setting new records yesterday. In general, it was a good day for the markets and a good day for Americans that choose to invest in our nation’s financial systems!'
on Premarket: Apple is green - '33 M AAPL shares traded today by 3:15 Pm PDT vs an average of 43.8 M. So yes, low volume day, and Max Pain consequently exerting it’s magnetic personality early.'
on Apple at $300: Why now? - 'Thank you for the history lesson RPL. I hadn’t heard of San Francisco Canyon Company before, which is especially funny since I worked on QuickTime for a few years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Canyon_Company Microsoft was so greasy back then.'
on Evercore raises Apple target $35 to $365 - 'This is my second post in response to Amit’s PT upgrade. In my first post I incorrectly based my comments on an incorrect reading of Amit’s upgrade. I used $335 vs the correct reading of $365. I think Amit’s new price is good, although i think it remains conservative. AAPL’s 16 year average growth rate has been ~25%. Amit’s target represents a gain of ~21%. AAPL has grown since April 1, 2025 (just before Trump’s attacks on US institutions, trading partners and allies began) by ~26%. This is consistent with AAPL’s historical growth rate of the past 16 years (~25%) despite all the negativity of WS and the media over Apple’s alleged lack of an “AI” strategy. Going into 2027 Apple has already introduced compelling new products (MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e) that are reshaping the competition environment with Windows and Android powered hardware in Apple’s favor. Apple’s “missing AI” strategy has emerged, with WS and the media stumbling all over themselves reversing their previous negativity, going so far as to declare Apple the winner of the “AI”. Also during the past year Apple has acquired all US streaming rights to FIA (Formula One racing), and released a highly successful F-1 movie, and won an Academy award. AppleTV is no longer a nuclear streaming movies provider, it is challenging the leaders for dominance. In the last 2 fiscal quarters Apple has reported sequential 22% YoY revenue growth results, and guided more of the same for the June quarter. The rate may slow in the December quarter, but, IMO, not by much. Despite me not seeing the utility in “AI”, the rest of the world does. Importantly, Apple is positioned in both hardware (silicon) and software (OSX and its offspring) to dominate. Then there is the continued move towards “AI” integration in Apple products with iPhone 18 and Macs (especially Mac Mini and Mac Studio). Last but not least I believe a major (and very promising) announcement regarding SpatialOS and Apple Vision Pro will occur at WWDC. Remember, the historic growth rate of AAPL is ~25%. There were lower growth periods, and higher growth periods. I believe the next year is going to be a higher growth period. A 30% growth period from today would take AAPL up to Ive’s $400 target. More importantly, I think Apple has begun a multi-year run. In two tears I see AAPL @ $500.'
on Blowback from Tim Cook's presence in Trump's China entourage - 'Now that Ternus is taking over day to day operations this is exactly where Tim needs to be, if only to do damage control. When I worked in Asia I recall that lieutenants on both sides were always on edge during meetings like these. No telling what trouble the high level guys could cause.'
