Apple Halts AI Feature Amidst Criticism
In a bold move, Apple has decided to suspend a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature that has been under fire for its repeated mistakes in summarizing news headlines.
The tech giant faced mounting pressure to withdraw the service, which sent notifications that seemed to originate from within news organizations’ apps.
An Apple spokesperson stated, “We are working on improvements and will make them available in a future software update.”
The BBC was one of the organizations to voice complaints after an alert generated by Apple’s AI falsely claimed that Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had taken his own life.
Reports from journalists and social media users also highlighted inaccuracies in summaries of headlines from Sky News, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.
Media outlets and press groups urged Apple to reconsider the feature, citing concerns about misinformation and declining trust in news.
Apple initially responded to complaints from the BBC in January, promising a software update to clarify the role of AI in creating summaries, which were optional and exclusive to readers with the latest iPhones.
However, criticism persisted, leading Apple to disable the feature entirely for news and entertainment apps.
An Apple spokesperson announced, “With the latest beta software releases of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, Notification summaries for the News & Entertainment category will be temporarily unavailable.”
For other apps, AI-generated summaries of app alerts will appear in italicized text.
The BBC expressed appreciation for Apple’s decision, stating, “We look forward to working with them constructively on next steps. Our priority is the accuracy of the news we deliver to audiences which is essential to building and maintaining trust.”
Apple had introduced the feature in the UK in December, aiming to streamline customers’ experiences by combining and rewriting previews of multiple recent app notifications into a single alert on lock screens.
The company’s shares fell more than 4% in trading following reports of struggling sales in China, highlighting the importance of addressing issues promptly.
Apple’s rare response to criticism reflects the severity of the errors made by its AI feature, which not only spread misinformation but also tarnished the reputation of news organizations like the BBC.
AI developers caution that the technology can sometimes “hallucinate,” emphasizing the need for verification of information provided by AI systems.
Apple’s public acknowledgment of the shortcomings in its AI feature serves as a reminder that reliability in AI-generated content is still a work in progress.
The timing of the latest error, involving content from the Washington Post, is particularly notable, given the connection between the news outlet’s owner, Jeff Bezos, and Apple’s CEO Tim Cook.