Apple Suspends AI News Alerts Amid Criticism Over Errors
Apple has temporarily halted a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature after facing backlash for repeated errors in its news headline summaries. The feature, which aimed to provide quick updates by condensing headlines, was criticized for inaccuracies that led to widespread concern.
One notable mistake involved a notification falsely stating that Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had taken his own life. The BBC, among other outlets, raised objections over the misleading alert, which was generated by Apple’s AI system.
Apple has acknowledged the concerns. “We are working on improvements and will release updates in the near future,” a spokesperson for the tech giant stated.
The controversial feature, introduced to UK users in December, grouped and rephrased multiple app notifications into a single summary on lock screens. Initially promoted as a tool to simplify users’ lives, it quickly drew criticism from media organizations and journalists who argued it was spreading misinformation and undermining trust in news reporting.
Apple initially planned to update the software to clarify the role of AI in generating these summaries. However, growing pressure from press groups and media outlets led to a more decisive action. The feature has now been disabled entirely for news and entertainment apps.
In a statement accompanying the latest beta software release of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, Apple announced: “Notification summaries for the News & Entertainment category will be temporarily unavailable.” AI-generated summaries for other app notifications will still be available but displayed in italicized text to distinguish them.
The BBC welcomed the move. “We’re glad Apple has responded to our concerns and paused the feature for now,” said a BBC spokesperson. “Accuracy in news delivery is vital for building and maintaining trust, and we look forward to working with Apple on future improvements.”
Apple’s decision to suspend the feature comes at a challenging time for the company, which has been under pressure to showcase advancements in AI technology. Investors had anticipated AI to drive demand for Apple products, but recent reports of declining sales in China have further intensified scrutiny. Apple’s shares fell over 4% in trading on Thursday.
While the suspension of the AI news alert feature marks a setback, Apple remains committed to refining its technology and addressing the concerns of users and partners alike.
