Spending Time at a University
1. The topic for external discussion, and confirmation that it is sufficiently separate from your work at Apple, does not pose a conflict of interest, and
2. The activity does not pose risk of sharing Apple Confidential Information, and
3. The time commitment required for completing the talk or lecture.
Can interns start working on their Apple work prior to the start of the internship?
No! As with any standard employee, interns should not begin working with Apple or on their future Apple work prior to their official start date.
Why do all publications need to go through IP review?
Publishing research can prevent Apple from seeking patents or trade secret protection of inventions in the future.
What is the process for getting approval for a small, informal talk with academia?
Get written approval from your manager and Director (that's it!).
Before an employee agrees to serve on a paper review committee, they must get manager and Director approval of what (2) things?
Confirmation that there is no interference with role responsibilities.
2. Confirmation that that you may disclose your Apple affiliation.
Before agreeing to sit on a dissertation committee, employees should ensure that...
1. They have the appropriate bandwidth to volunteer for the position, and;
2. The work the student is doing is removed enough from your work at Apple so as not to pose an IP risk.
What is the risk associated with overlapping internship projects and intern dissertation projects?
The student may unknowingly incorporate Apple-owned IP into their dissertation, or university-owned IP into their Apple work.
Do employees need approval outside of Pubtool to present work about a research publication?
No! Only requests to speak externally about Apple work that is not directly related to presenting work about a research publication , or on topics discussed in your Apple capacity (i.e. sitting on a research / technical panel as a representative of Apple) must be pre-approved through the AIML External Speaking Process, managed by the AIML Communications team.
What is an NSF letter of collaboration?
A NSF letter of collaboration documents a collaboration between a PI and other entities whose contributions are significant to a proposal.
While serving on a conference organizing committee, employees must ensure what?
Contributions do not require the employee to disclose any Apple Confidential Information.
What type of agreement might legal require when an employee advises a PhD student?
University Activities Agreement
What is the preferred process for incorporating an advisor's material contributions to an Apple-led internship project?
If the advisor’s involvement will result in material contribution to the work, consider hiring them as a consultant / contractor to ensure Apple can maintain ownership over all project IP.
What are (2) of the main points of guidance provided about participation on career panels?
1. Avoid speaking about Apple culture, products, or business in any detail that isn’t already public or common knowledge.
2. When sitting on a panel, do not comment on competitors, compare products, or give any indication about future work.
3. Questions should be vetted in advance by PR/PM through the process.
4. If you are being asked to provide insight into Apple’s culture or other specifics, it’s best to decline. In general, Apple employees are discouraged from participating in panels alongside other industry members.
What is the dollar threshold for a charitable donation that requires CEO or CFO approval?
$100,000 USD
What is the correct affiliation that should be listed on a name tag at a conference?
Apple (not Apple Inc.)
What is an "adjunct" faculty member?
Adjunct faculty positions are usually contract, part time, or volunteer positions that may involve a minimal (1-2 hour) commitment per week to teach and/or advise students.
What affiliation should be used if an intern publishes and / or presents work after an internship is over?
On the final publication, authors should use their current affiliation and contact details at time of publishing / presenting the work, with a footnote adding context regarding where the work was conducted, if applicable.
What are the (3) types of social media or blog posts are allowed?
1. Sharing an exciting piece of content.
2. Sharing relevant ML research and resources.
3. Sharing impactful public AIML at Apple programs.
Do approved joint publications with an external author still go through Pubtool for approvals?
Yes! Authors should still submit to Pubtool for standard reviews and approvals, as with all Apple-authored publications, prior to submission.
What are the two capacities by which an Apple employee can serve on an advisory board, academic committee, or board of directors?
1. On behalf of / as a representative of Apple, and;
2. In a personal capacity.
What are the most common management chain approvals required across use cases?
Manager AND Director only
What are the (3) risks associated with continued Apple work once the intern returns to campus after an internship?
1. When the former intern returns to campus, all future material contributions to any ongoing research project may fall under university ownership,
2. Former interns may have been exposed to Apple Confidential Information during their internship that they now have knowledge of when continuing material work on campus,
3. Apple should not be asking students to continue to do research on behalf of Apple, for which they were formerly compensated but are no longer being paid.
What should an employee do when submitting a publication on a topic not related to machine learning?
Submit to Business Conduct for separate review, outside of the processes and guidelines for Academic Activities of Apple Employees in AIML.
What are the two limitations that employees should keep in mind when discussing university-led research projects?
1. Conversation should only cover open, public information, and that neither party should share confidential, proprietary or patentable information.
2. Only high-level industry perspective and general constraints and suggestions should be shared, and no contributions should significant enough to warrant authorship.
What is the difference between "serving on a conference organizing committee" and "organizing a workshop at a conference"?
The former involves being involved with co-organization of a conference (or workshop) that was initiated largely by external parties, the latter involves organizing at workshop for which the workshop topics / concepts were generated internally at Apple.