Apple To Update AI After False Headlines Reported

After incidents of inaccurate news alerts on its latest devices, Apple has announced plans to update its artificial intelligence (AI) feature. Among the errors were a claim that Luigi Mangione, accused of killing a US insurance executive, had shot himself and that tennis star Rafael Nadal had come out as gay. Both reports mischaracterized original news content and were incorrect.

Apple is working on a software update to clarify when notifications are summaries created by the Apple Intelligence system. Media organizations have raised concerns about this update, which is expected in the coming weeks, to address them. After alerts using its logo shared false information, the BBC lodged a formal complaint, saying it undermined the integrity of its news content. Apple’s AI-generated summaries have also caused problems for ProPublica and the New York Times.

Introduced in December to compete with other generative AI tools, the controversial AI feature was rolled out. Available on newer iPhone models such as the iPhone 16, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max, as well as some iPads and Macs. But the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have criticised inaccuracies.

NUJ General Secretary Laura Davison said the AI feature should be removed completely, as trust in journalism is paramount. RSF echoed these concerns, saying that labeling content as AI-generated shifts the responsibility onto users, which could lead to the spread of misinformation. Apple admitted the problems, saying its AI features are in beta and still being worked on. The company asked users to report concerns and promised that the upcoming update would be clearer. But critics say trust in journalism is at risk. The demand for Apple to remove the feature altogether only increases.