Apple Intelligence Criticized for Generating False News Headlines

Nick Papanikolopoulos

December 20, 2024

Apple is under fire for its Apple Intelligence feature, which uses AI to generate news summaries for notifications. The criticism intensified after the AI created a misleading headline about a high-profile murder case, prompting major journalism organizations to demand changes.

The feature, introduced with the global release of iOS 18.2, incorrectly attributed to BBC News the claim that Luigi Mangione, a murder suspect, had killed himself. In reality, Mangione remains under maximum security at the Huntingdon State Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania, where he faces first-degree murder charges for the killing of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York.

Journalistic Organizations Respond

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on Apple to disable the AI-powered notification summaries. The RSF argued that AI-generated summaries are “immature” and unfit to produce reliable public information. Vincent Berthier, head of RSF’s technology and journalism department, warned that “AI is a probability machine, and facts cannot be determined by chance.” He described the creation of false information by automated systems as a threat to the public’s right to accurate information.

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The BBC has confirmed filing a formal complaint with Apple over the incident. This is not the first misstep for the feature; a similar issue occurred with the New York Times, where the AI falsely claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been arrested. The original article had instead discussed an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.

How Apple Intelligence Works

The Apple Intelligence feature reduces notification clutter by creating concise summaries of news alerts. It is available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, and selected iPads and Macs running the latest software updates. The feature is on by default, but users can manually disable it in their device settings.

Apple Remains Silent

Apple has yet to comment on the controversy or indicate whether it plans to modify or remove the feature. The incidents have reignited debates about the risks of relying on AI in news production and its potential impact on information accuracy and credibility.

Read Also: No More Downgrades: Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.1.1

Challenges and Risks

While AI offers opportunities to streamline information delivery, these incidents highlight its limitations. Mistakes like these not only undermine trust in AI but also risk damaging the reputation of the news organizations involved. As AI continues to evolve, companies must address these shortcomings to ensure reliability and accountability.

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