Apple has paused its new AI-powered news alert feature after receiving criticism for frequent inaccuracies in headline summaries.
Mounting Criticism of AI Summaries
The service faced backlash for sending notifications that misrepresented news, appearing as if they came from news apps. A BBC complaint highlighted one alert that falsely claimed Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself. The AI also misrepresented headlines from the New York Times and Washington Post, sparking widespread criticism on social media.
Apple responded in January, promising a software update to clarify the role of AI in creating these optional summaries. However, media outlets and press groups argued the feature was not ready and contributed to misinformation, further eroding trust in news.
“We’re working on improvements and will release them in a future update,” an Apple spokesperson said.
Apple’s Response and Market Impact
Facing mounting pressure, Apple disabled the feature for news and entertainment apps. A spokesperson confirmed the change with the latest beta releases of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3. For other apps, AI-generated summaries will remain but appear in italicized text.
The BBC welcomed Apple’s decision, emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting to maintain audience trust. “We look forward to collaborating with Apple on next steps,” a BBC spokesperson said.
Launched in December, the feature aimed to streamline notifications by grouping and summarizing alerts on users’ lock screens. Despite its efficiency goals, the errors overshadowed its benefits, leaving Apple under pressure to ensure its AI innovations align with user trust.
The suspension comes as Apple faces investor scrutiny to showcase advancements in AI and drive demand for its devices. Reports of declining sales in China caused Apple’s shares to drop over 4% on Thursday, intensifying challenges for the tech giant.
