Apple disables A.I. news summaries after criticism over errors: Report

Apple has temporarily disabled its artificial intelligence-powered news summaries feature following widespread criticism, including from British media outlets, over inaccuracies in its implementation. The change, announced Thursday in a developer software update, reflects ongoing challenges in deploying AI features.

The decision follows complaints from organizations like the BBC, which highlighted an incident where Apple’s software misrepresented a news story. A BBC notification about the arrest of Luigi Mangione in connection with a New York murder was inaccurately summarized as “Luigi Mangione shoots himself.” The BBC urged Apple to address the issue in December.

In addition to disabling news summaries, Apple plans to introduce a warning for users opting into similar notification summaries. The disclaimer will highlight that the feature is in development and prone to errors.

This setback adds to the growing list of challenges faced by AI-driven products across the tech industry. Google, for instance, faced backlash when its chatbot suggested eating rocks, and Microsoft delayed the release of certain AI features due to security concerns. Similarly, start-up Humane’s AI Pin received criticism for inconsistent performance.

Experts suggest that these early missteps highlight the steep learning curve in developing reliable AI for consumer applications. “It’s hard, and it’s early, and there’s not a clear value proposition yet for mainstream consumers,” said Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies. “It is going to take time, and it’s going to be a real slow roll.”

Apple remains committed to improving its AI capabilities, stating that it plans to reintroduce the news summary feature in a future update. A BBC spokesperson welcomed the move, emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting to maintain public trust.

Apple’s AI journey began with the rollout of its Apple Intelligence system, showcased during the launch of the iPhone 16. The system promised advanced features, including message sorting, writing suggestions, and a more capable Siri integrated with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. However, many of these features remain unavailable, limited to iPhone 15 and 16 models and restricted to English-speaking markets.

The limited functionality and market availability have impacted Apple’s competitive standing. Its share of the global smartphone market fell from 19% in 2023 to 18% last year, according to Counterpoint Research.

Despite the setbacks, analysts believe Apple’s focus on on-device AI remains a long-term strategy. “It’s the right way to go, but it’s not a trivial task,” said Bob O’Donnell of TECHnalysis Research.