Apple is under scrutiny following calls to withdraw its AI-generated news summary feature after several instances of misinformation surfaced. Designed to summarize breaking news alerts on the latest iPhone models, the feature has faced criticism for creating entirely false claims that misrepresent the original content.
BBC Complaints and Misinformation Risks
The BBC raised concerns last month after an AI-generated summary on the Apple platform falsely claimed that Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had taken his own life. Another error inaccurately announced that Luke Littler had won the PDC World Darts Championship hours before the event began, and yet another incorrectly claimed that Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal had come out as gay.
Alan Rusbridger, former editor of the Guardian, described the technology as “out of control” and warned of its potential to exacerbate misinformation. Speaking on BBC Radio Four’s Today programme, Rusbridger called for Apple to halt the feature, stating, “Trust in news is low enough already without giant American corporations using it as a test product.”
Broader Impacts on Media Organizations
The BBC is not alone in voicing concerns. In November, ProPublica highlighted errors in Apple’s AI summaries of New York Times alerts, including a false claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been arrested. Another inaccurate summary appeared on January 6, misrepresenting a story about the Capitol riots’ anniversary.
Reporters Without Borders, a journalism advocacy organization, echoed calls for Apple to disable the feature, emphasizing that “Generative AI services are too immature to reliably inform the public.”
Apple’s Response
Apple acknowledged the issue on Monday, marking its first formal response to the complaints. The company pledged to clarify when text displayed in notifications is AI-generated and announced a software update in the coming weeks to address these concerns. It reiterated that the feature remains optional and encouraged users to report inaccuracies.
“Apple Intelligence features are in beta, and we are continuously making improvements based on user feedback,” the company said.
Generative AI Challenges
Apple’s missteps highlight broader challenges with generative AI tools across the tech industry. Google faced similar backlash last year when its AI overviews in search results produced erratic responses. Despite the issues, Apple and other companies continue to expand their AI capabilities.
Limited Rollout
Apple’s notification summaries are currently available only on iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max devices running iOS 18.1 and above, and select iPads and Macs. The feature groups and rewrites multiple app notifications into a single alert, aiming to streamline information consumption for users.
As generative AI tools evolve, companies like Apple must balance innovation with accuracy to ensure public trust in technology and information. The backlash underscores the urgent need for tech giants to refine their AI systems and address the risks of misinformation.