Elon Musk has publicly criticized Apple’s decision to collaborate with OpenAI to introduce artificial intelligence features for the iPhone. He directly urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to “stop this creepy spyware” and threatened to ban iPhones from the premises of his companies—SpaceX, Tesla, and X (previously Twitter).
Apple revealed its partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, during the opening day of its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday. Just hours later, Musk took to X to express his frustration with the initiative, labeling it “an unacceptable security violation.”
In response to Cook's announcement of Apple Intelligence on X, Musk stated, “Don’t want it. Either stop this creepy spyware or all Apple devices will be banned from the premises of my companies.” He further referred to the integration as “an unacceptable security violation” in a separate post.
Musk emphasized that if Apple incorporates OpenAI into its operating system, anyone entering his companies will need to check their Apple devices at the door, where they would be kept in a Faraday cage. He elaborated on his concerns, remarking, “It's absurd that Apple can’t develop its own AI but believes OpenAI will safeguard your security and privacy! Apple doesn’t understand the risks of handing your data to OpenAI. They’re selling you out.”
During its keynote presentation on Monday, Apple unveiled a variety of new features for iOS 18, including significant enhancements to Siri, which will now leverage OpenAI’s ChatGPT capabilities.
A now-removed community note attached to one of Musk’s X posts stated, “Apple Intelligence does not share your personal data with OpenAI. While ChatGPT can be utilized by Apple Intelligence, specifically within Siri, it is not mandatory. Users receive a prompt prior to sending their request to OpenAI, meaning only the prompt data is shared.”
OpenAI's website reassures users: “When accessing ChatGPT within Siri and Writing Tools, privacy protections are in place—requests are not stored, and user IP addresses are obscured. Users have the option to connect their ChatGPT account, allowing their data preferences to align with ChatGPT’s policies.”
What motivates Musk’s strong reaction? There appears to be a history of tension between him and OpenAI. Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but distanced himself from it three years later for reasons that remain unclear. Since then, he has consistently criticized OpenAI, particularly as it gained significant attention in early 2023 with the triumph of its AI chatbot, ChatGPT.
In March, Musk even filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming it had strayed from its founding goal of developing AI for humanity's benefit in favor of profit. Additionally, Musk launched his own AI initiative last year that directly competes with OpenAI.
While some may argue Musk has valid concerns regarding privacy and AI, the rapid advancement of this technology amid minimal regulation raises questions about the implications of such developments. For instance, Microsoft recently modified its AI-powered Recall feature due to public backlash over privacy concerns.
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