In a surprising move, Apple has decided to halt its newly implemented artificial intelligence (AI) feature that generated news alerts following significant criticism for producing incorrect summaries. The tech company had been under increasing scrutiny to retract the service, which notified users with alerts that mimicked notifications from established news outlets' applications. Speaking on behalf of the company, an Apple spokesperson stated, "We are working on improvements and will make them available in a future software update."
Apple Suspends AI-Generated News Alerts Amidst Accuracy Concerns
Apple Suspends AI-Generated News Alerts Amidst Accuracy Concerns
Apple pauses its AI news feature after facing backlash over inaccurate news summaries and user complaints.
The BBC and several other media organizations raised objections after the AI feature inaccurately reported that Luigi Mangione, who was accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had taken his own life. Reports from journalists and social media users indicated that the AI also misrepresented headlines from prominent publications, such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. Press organizations advocated for the feature's suspension, cautioning that AI errors were contributing to misinformation, thereby eroding public trust in news.
In earlier communications, Apple had assured a software update would elucidate the AI’s role in crafting the summaries, which were optional for users with the latest iPhone models. However, the latest decision encompasses a complete shutdown of the feature specifically for news and entertainment applications. An Apple spokesperson confirmed that with the release of the beta versions of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, notification summaries for these categories would be temporarily unavailable. For other applications, AI-generated alert summaries would be differentiated with italicized text.
"We appreciate that Apple has acknowledged our concerns and is taking steps to pause the summarization feature for news,” said a BBC spokesperson, emphasizing the critical importance of accuracy in the news landscape. Apple had originally launched the feature in the UK in December 2022, promoting it as a means to streamline users' access to notifications by consolidating multiple alerts into a single summary displayed on the lock screen.
Apple's decision to retract the feature comes during a time when the company is under pressure to demonstrate its advancements in AI technology, amid expectations from investors for a renewed surge in demand for its products, notably iPhones. The recent weekend saw shares in the company drop over 4% as reports of struggling sales in China emerged.
In earlier communications, Apple had assured a software update would elucidate the AI’s role in crafting the summaries, which were optional for users with the latest iPhone models. However, the latest decision encompasses a complete shutdown of the feature specifically for news and entertainment applications. An Apple spokesperson confirmed that with the release of the beta versions of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, notification summaries for these categories would be temporarily unavailable. For other applications, AI-generated alert summaries would be differentiated with italicized text.
"We appreciate that Apple has acknowledged our concerns and is taking steps to pause the summarization feature for news,” said a BBC spokesperson, emphasizing the critical importance of accuracy in the news landscape. Apple had originally launched the feature in the UK in December 2022, promoting it as a means to streamline users' access to notifications by consolidating multiple alerts into a single summary displayed on the lock screen.
Apple's decision to retract the feature comes during a time when the company is under pressure to demonstrate its advancements in AI technology, amid expectations from investors for a renewed surge in demand for its products, notably iPhones. The recent weekend saw shares in the company drop over 4% as reports of struggling sales in China emerged.
