Apple is facing growing backlash over its AI-powered news summarization feature on the iPhone 16 models, which has been accused of spreading false information. The tool, which is designed to summarize breaking news alerts, has made several inaccurate claims, including completely fabricated stories.
Prominent figures such as Alan Rusbridger, former editor of The Guardian, have called on Apple to withdraw the feature, describing it as “out of control” and potentially dangerous due to the misinformation risk. The controversy began after the BBC highlighted an AI-generated error, which falsely reported that a man involved in a murder case had shot himself.
Apple has since acknowledged the issue, stating that it is working on clarifying that the summaries are AI-generated. The company assured users that a software update will arrive soon to help users distinguish between factual information and AI summaries.
The issue isn’t limited to the BBC, as other major news outlets, including The New York Times, have also reported inaccuracies in Apple’s AI-generated news summaries. ProPublica journalist complaints about incorrect summaries, such as one falsely suggesting Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had been arrested, have fueled the concerns.
This controversy has raised questions about the readiness of generative AI tools for providing reliable news to the public. Reporters Without Borders has urged Apple to disable the feature, citing the risk of spreading misinformation. Apple, however, maintains that the tool is still in its beta phase and aims to improve with user feedback.
Apple is not alone in facing criticism over AI tools, as Google’s AI summarization feature also encountered similar problems last year. Despite the growing criticism, both companies continue to refine their generative AI technology.
