Apple has announced plans to update, rather than pause, its new artificial intelligence (AI) feature after concerns were raised about inaccurate news alerts on its latest iPhones.
In its first public acknowledgment of the issue, the tech giant said on Monday it is working on a software change to “further clarify” when notifications are summaries generated by the Apple Intelligence system.
BBC Complaint Highlights Major Flaws
The controversy arose after the BBC reported last month that an AI-generated summary of its news misled users by claiming Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself.
More errors followed last week when Apple’s AI inaccurately summarized BBC notifications. One alert incorrectly stated that Luke Littler had won the PDC World Darts Championship hours before it began, while another falsely claimed Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal had announced he was gay.
“These AI summarisations by Apple do not reflect—and in some cases completely contradict—the original BBC content,” the broadcaster said on Monday. “It is critical that Apple urgently addresses these issues as the accuracy of our news is essential in maintaining trust.”
Apple’s Response
Apple stated that the problematic feature, part of its AI suite, was still in beta and receiving continuous updates based on user feedback. The company defended the tool, which aggregates and rewrites app notification previews into a single lock screen alert, as optional and customizable.
“A software update in the coming weeks will further clarify when the text being displayed is summarization provided by Apple Intelligence,” Apple said in its statement. “We encourage users to report a concern if they view an unexpected notification summary.”
The feature was introduced in the UK in December and is available only on iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max devices running iOS 18.1 or later, as well as select iPads and Macs.
Backlash and Calls for Suspension
Media organizations and industry groups have criticized the technology’s apparent immaturity. Reporters Without Borders, an organization advocating for journalists’ rights, called on Apple to disable the feature in December.
The group argued that the false headline attributed to the BBC about Luigi Mangione illustrated the risks of generative AI tools in producing reliable public information.
Broader Issues with Generative AI
Apple is not alone in facing scrutiny over generative AI inaccuracies. Google’s AI overviews feature, which provides written summaries at the top of its search results, also came under fire last year for erratic outputs.
Despite these challenges, Apple remains committed to improving the technology. The company reiterated that user feedback is integral to refining its AI tools, underscoring the beta nature of the feature as it continues to evolve.
The update, expected in the coming weeks, aims to restore confidence in Apple’s AI capabilities while addressing ongoing concerns. However, whether this will be sufficient to satisfy critics and prevent further backlash remains to be seen.
