Apple has announced the suspension of a feature on its iPhones that utilized artificial intelligence to deliver inaccurate news alerts to some users. This decision was revealed in a beta version of the upcoming software release, iOS 18.3. The beta version is currently accessible to a limited group of iPhone users and developers, with the finalized update expected to be available to all users in the coming weeks.
As part of the beta update, Apple has disabled the AI-generated feature for news and entertainment due to issues causing the technology to produce fabricated information, often referred to as 'hallucinations' in the industry. Similar updates for Apple's iPad and Mac computers are also undergoing testing.
This temporary suspension represents a setback for Apple's AI integration efforts across its product line. The company's focus on AI technology intensified with the launch of the iPhone 16 last September, which includes the necessary computer chip for Apple's 'Apple Intelligence' technology. The premium iPhone 15 models from 2023 also feature the AI processor.
Media organizations, including the BBC, raised concerns about the unreliable news summary feature after Apple sent alerts containing false headlines. In a notable incident, an AI-generated summary attributed to BBC News incorrectly stated that 'Luigi Mangione shoots himself,' despite no such event involving the individual accused of shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
Last year, Google faced a similar challenge when it had to adjust its search engine due to AI-generated summaries providing inaccurate information at the top of search results. Some of these erroneous summaries garnered attention on social media for their outlandish content.
