Apple has halted a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature due to public backlash concerning frequent errors in summarizing news headlines. The tech giant, under increasing pressure, paused the service sending notifications that seemed to originate from news apps.
"We are enhancing the feature and will release updates in upcoming software versions," stated an Apple spokesperson.
The BBC raised concerns with Apple in December but only received a response in January, promising an update to clarify the AI's role in creating the summaries, exclusive to readers with the newest iPhones.
Now, Apple has chosen to disable the feature for news and entertainment apps, as confirmed by an Apple spokesperson: "Notification summaries for the News & Entertainment category will be temporarily unavailable with the latest beta software releases of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3."
Apple mentioned that summaries for other apps will be displayed in italics, generated by AI.
"We are pleased that Apple has halted the summarization feature for news," said a BBC spokesperson, expressing optimism in cooperating with Apple for the future. Emphasizing their commitment to delivering accurate news for building trust among audiences.
Initially introduced in the UK in December, the feature aimed to streamline users' interactions by consolidating and rephrasing multiple notifications into one on lock screens. This decision follows pressure for Apple to showcase AI advancements, anticipated to boost demand for iPhones and related products.
With recent reports of sluggish sales in China, the company’s shares declined by over 4% on Thursday. Apple typically remains resilient against criticism without responding frequently.
This move, although subtle, underscores the significant impact of errors in the AI feature. Apart from spreading incorrect information, it risked tarnishing the credibility of news outlets like the BBC by associating false headlines with their branding.
This misstep highlights the challenges in AI development, despite disclaimers urging verification of AI-generated content. Even with Apple's resources, the recent setback reveals the technology's ongoing limitations.