OpenAI Addresses Privacy Concerns Related to Apple Intelligence

On Monday, Elon Musk expressed his discontent on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the recent integration of OpenAI's ChatGPT into Apple iOS, specifically within Siri. He referred to the machine learning system as "creepy spyware." In response, OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, addressed Musk's claims during Fortune's MPW dinner the following evening. "That’s his opinion. Obviously, I disagree," she stated. "We prioritize our users' privacy and the safety of our technology."

This disagreement arises from Apple's new partnership with OpenAI, unveiled at WWDC 2024. This collaboration will allow ChatGPT to enhance Siri by handling queries beyond the capabilities of Apple's built-in AI. Software developer Dylan McDonald explained, "It's essentially the same as using the ChatGPT app."

According to Fortune, OpenAI's technology will be integrated into iOS to work seamlessly with various Apple services. Importantly, Apple clarified that it will not share user data with OpenAI, nor will OpenAI use Apple’s data for training its models. This is distinct from Apple Intelligence, which also debuted on Monday and operates independently on a secure private cloud, contrasting with the public cloud utilized by OpenAI.

In reaction to the partnership, Musk, who co-founded OpenAI but later established competing venture xAI, threatened to prohibit his employees from using Apple products for work, including iPhones and Macs. He voiced his concerns on X, stating, "Apple has no clue what’s happening once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river." Murati responded, "We’re committed to being as transparent as possible with the public. The greatest risk is that stakeholders may misunderstand the technology."