Tesla CEO Elon Musk has warned he will ban Apple devices at all of his companies, following the tech giant’s announcement of AI integration in its operating systems on upcoming devices.
Apple last week held its Worldwide Developer Conference, which brought with it the announcement of sweeping updates to iOS including further customisation and, notably, planned AI integration.
The company announced it would be integrating ChatGPT into its operating systems, which will be repackaged and rebranded under the ‘Apple Intelligence‘ name. It promises to protect users’ privacy alongside streamlined device functionality.
In response, Mr Musk blasted Apple and said it had “no clue” about AI data privacy, labelling its devices as a security risk at his companies.
Musk took to his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice his complaints, which were focused around Apple’s decision to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT software at the OS level.
Among the features is an improved Siri function, which can access ChatGPT to answer complex queries when granted permission by the user.
“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 and privacy!” Mr Musk wrote in a post on June 11.
“Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river.”
Apple’s approach to introducing AI involves the careful roll-out of features it believes to be useful, which will reduce the threat of throwing off the brand’s consumer experience and overwhelming users.
Mr Musk’s concerns over data security mean he could potentially ban Apple devices at his companies, which would include Tesla.
“If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation,” he wrote in a separate June 11 post. “And visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage.
“Either stop this creepy spyware or all Apple devices will be banned from the premises of my companies,” Mr Musk added in response to a post by Apple CEO Tim Cook.
A Faraday cage is a specialised container that prevents electromagnetic radiation passing through, according to LiveScience. They can be any shape and size, ranging from a small box to an entire building.
If a device is placed within a Faraday cage, it can no longer transmit electromagnetic radiation outside, which means internet access and mobile phone signals will be blocked.
It’s worth noting Mr Musk helped found OpenAI in 2015, though he left the company in 2018 and sued it in February this year, arguing it had deviated from its goal of benefitting humanity. The case was dropped last week.
Mr Musk has also clashed with Mr Cook in the past, and Tesla remains one of the only major car companies to not offer Apple CarPlay on its cars.
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