Elon Musk Threatens Apple Device Ban Over OpenAI Integration, Citing Security Concerns
3 min read
Hakan Nural/Anadolu via Getty Images | Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
In response to Apple’s recent announcement of its integration with OpenAI, Elon Musk has threatened to ban iPhones and other Apple products within his companies, labeling the move as a significant security violation.
On Monday, Elon Musk took to his social media platform, X, to express his apprehensions about the partnership. “If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation,” he stated. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, added that visitors would be required to check their Apple devices with security and store them in a Faraday cage upon entering his companies’ premises. He continued to criticize Apple, arguing that it was “absurd” for them to rely on OpenAI rather than developing their own AI solutions, while still assuring users of their security and privacy.
If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024
Apple, in a statement reported by CNBC, clarified that its integration with OpenAI is optional and that it utilizes its own AI technologies. CEO Tim Cook announced that OpenAI would be part of an update for Apple’s voice assistant, Siri, accessible through the ChatGPT chatbot. Cook emphasized that user permission would be required to share any information with OpenAI, and that no data would be logged.
“Our unique approach combines generative AI with a user’s personal context to deliver truly helpful intelligence. And it can access that information in a completely private and secure way to help users do the things that matter most to them. This is AI as only Apple can deliver it, and we can’t wait for users to experience what it can do,” Cook stated on Apple’s website.
It’s patently absurd that Apple isn’t smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy!
Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re sell ing you down the river.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024Advertisement
Elon Musk responded to a tweet under Cook’s announcement, reiterating his stance: “Don’t want it. Either stop this creepy spyware or all Apple devices will be banned from the premises of my companies.” This isn’t Musk’s first foray into the AI arena; he recently raised $6 billion for his own AI venture, xAI, which aims to compete with OpenAI. The first product from xAI, named Grok, is currently used on the X platform.
The tech mogul’s threat to ban Apple devices highlights the tension between ensuring privacy and leveraging advanced AI capabilities. Apple and OpenAI have not yet responded to Reuters’ requests for comments.
It’s personal, powerful, and private—and it’s integrated into the apps you rely on every day.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 10, 2024
Introducing Apple Intelligence—our next chapter in AI. https://t.co/uOfIrcTYm7
Apple’s new AI features aim to enhance user experience across its devices while maintaining a strong emphasis on privacy. The company claims to combine on-device processing with cloud computing to offer robust AI functionalities without compromising user data security.
Industry analysts, like Ben Bajarin, CEO of consulting firm Creative Strategies, suggest that Musk’s drastic measures may not gain widespread support. Bajarin explained that Apple’s privacy narrative emphasizes that even when data is processed in the cloud, it remains anonymized and secure.
Elon Musk’s ongoing rivalry with OpenAI is also noteworthy. He co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with the mission to develop AI for humanity’s benefit. However, Musk later sued OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, claiming they deviated from their original, non-profit mission. Musk’s new venture, xAI, reflects his commitment to building an alternative to OpenAI’s technologies, like the widely-used ChatGPT.
As the debate over AI integration and security continues, Musk’s latest move underscores the complex balance between innovation and privacy in the tech industry.
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
