Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has solidified his leadership at the tech company by securing a significant deal with Apple, as reported by The Information.

The partnership aims to incorporate AI into Apple products, bringing OpenAI closer to its goal of becoming Apple’s default search engine for the Safari web browser.

At 39, Altman has been proactive in steering OpenAI’s direction, removing competitors from the board and contemplating changes to its nonprofit structure. Additionally, he is venturing into AI chip manufacturing and collaborating with former Apple designer Jony Ive on a personal AI-powered device.

Despite his ambitious plans, Altman faces challenges. Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, has raised concerns about the impact of the Apple partnership on its own AI endeavors.

Founded in December 2015 by Altman, Elon Musk, and other tech luminaries as a nonprofit organization, OpenAI added a for-profit arm in 2019 to support its research efforts. Since launching ChatGPT in late 2022, OpenAI’s valuation has surged to around $90 billion.

Altman is now considering further changes for OpenAI, including converting it into a for-profit corporation or adopting the model of other AI companies like Anthropic and Musk’s xAI that operate as for-profit benefit corporations.

In a dramatic turn of events last November, Altman faced removal by board members accusing him of dishonesty. This led to widespread discontent among employees, with many threatening to resign unless Altman was reinstated. Ultimately, under significant pressure, Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman were reinstated to their positions.