Apple Suspends AI News Summaries Due to Errors

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, has announced the suspension of an AI-driven feature that was meant to deliver news alerts to iPhone users but has been generating misleading information.

This decision was shared on Thursday as part of the testing phase for the upcoming software update, iOS 18.3. This beta version of the software is currently available to a limited number of iPhone users and developers. Features tested during this phase typically roll out to all users a few weeks later.

In the latest beta update, Apple stated that it is temporarily disabling the AI-generated news and entertainment alerts while the company works to address the inaccuracies that have led to the dissemination of false information. Within the tech industry, this issue is often referred to as “hallucinations,” which indicates a flaw in AI understanding or output. Updates to similar software for Apple's iPad and Mac computers are in the works as well.

Even though this suspension is temporary, it marks a setback for Apple's ambition to integrate AI across its products. The company has been focusing on AI development since the launch of the iPhone 16 last September, which includes a specialized chip for a technology it refers to as “Apple Intelligence.” Additionally, the premium iPhone 15 models from 2023 are equipped with this AI processing capability.

Media outlets, including the BBC, have raised concerns about the reliability of the news summary feature, particularly after Apple issued alerts that misrepresented their stories. For instance, in a notable incident last month, the BBC reported that an AI-generated alert incorrectly claimed that “Luigi Mangione shoots himself,” an event that never occurred concerning the individual accused of killing the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.

Apple is not the only tech giant facing challenges with AI-generated content. Google had to revise a new version of its search engine after its AI-generated summaries displayed incorrect information, leading to some strange responses that drew social media attention.

Apple, AI, news, iPhone, technology