Apple is known for its Apple Intelligence features in iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. However, the brand has recently faced public wrath owing to a glitch in one of its Apple Intelligence features in iOS18.1 or recent devices. Let’s delve deeper into this matter.
About the Glitch
Apple iOS18.1 has a generative AI feature that provides a round-up of notifications related to top headlines on the users’ lock screen.
It collates all notifications in a single, summarized message so that users can get a cursory overview of the breaking news. However, some of these alerts turned out inaccurate, thereby misleading the users.
First False Headline
The trusted news outlet British Broadcast Company (BBC) reported this glitch in December 2024 after the launch of Apple Intelligence in the UK. BBC complained that the AI-powered summary on Apple iPhone generated a fake headline under the name of BBC News.
It claimed that Luigi Mangione, the man arrested for the murder of healthcare insurance CEO Brian Thompson in the United States, had shot himself. He had not shot himself in reality.
Second and Third False Headlines
BBC again reported two more fake push notifications on its BBC Sports app on iPhone devices in January 2025. The AI news summary showed that darts player Luke Littler was crowned the winner in the PDC World Darts Championship final. The truth was that the final event was yet to happen.
A few hours after Luke Littler’s news, the app users received an AI alert that the tennis icon Rafael Nadal has come out as gay. It could have happened that AI erroneously mixed up the story of Brazilian tennis player Joao Lucas Reis da Silva whose coming out news broke on the internet on the same day.
The Mishap Happened Before Too
A senior editor from another publication also tweeted about an incorrect AI notification summary in November 2024. The alert, which was a summary of headlines from the New York Times, mentioned that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been arrested.
BBC Take a Firm Stand Against Apple
When BBC first reported this issue, it claimed to reach out to Apple to fix the bug. However, Apple refused to comment. The BBC spokesperson emphasized that it was essential for the world-reputed broadcaster that its audience can trust anything published in its name, including notifications. A month after the first report, BBC again urged the tech giant to scrap the AI intelligence news feature.
Other Organizations Call Out Apple
Reporters Without Borders, an international organization that defends press freedom, voiced its concern in favor of BBC. It showed its concern about the risks of AI tool usage in media outlets. It pressed Apple to act responsibly and eliminate the AI summary feature.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ), a trade union for journalists in the UK and Ireland agreed that Apple should take quick action to scrap this feature. It pointed out that Apple’s glitch does not put the audience in a position where they have to second-guess the truthfulness of the news.
Other experts also expressed views such as Apple needed to pull a product that was not ready or technology seemed out of control.
Apple’s Response
Initially, Apple maintained silence on the glitch. Later, the tech giant issued a statement mentioning that it is constantly improving beta-based Apple Intelligence features based on user feedback. It also said that it would soon roll out a software update that will clear up the dispute whether the text display on the lock screen is due to the Apple Intelligence summarization feature.
However, the company also put an onus on the users. It has requested users to report the inaccuracy if they see an unexpected notification summary on their Apple devices.
Google Faced a Similar Backlash
Google launched a feature called AI Overview in 2024 on similar lines to Apple. This feature generated AI-enabled summaries on its search engine results. However, many users including some journalists shared that summaries gave misleading answers. The journalists said that AI Overview cited questionable sources such as Reddit posts on jokes or non-factual articles on the Onion.
Further Implications
Such major AI bugs from world-renowned tech companies like Apple and Google make us question the bad side of technology. While technology should make everyone’s lives easier, it shouldn’t mislead, manipulate, or negatively influence people.
Media outlets working with AI companies should establish clear guidelines and measures to prevent such incidents.
Meanwhile, Apple device users can turn off ‘Summarize Previews’ in the notification settings of apps at their discretion.
