Apple is under fire for its AI-powered news alerts, with critics urging the tech giant to withdraw the feature over concerns about misinformation and inaccurate summaries.
Introduced in December 2024, Apple’s AI-powered alerts aim to simplify news consumption by condensing multiple notifications into concise summaries on lock screens. Available on the latest iPhones, iPads, and Macs running iOS 18.1 or higher, the feature requires users to opt in and relies on Apple’s “Apple Intelligence” AI system.
However, serious flaws in the AI have caused it to apparently spread misinformation. The BBC, for example, flagged the issue to Apple after the system falsely claimed a darts championship winner before the event began and appeared to have fabricated a story about a murder suspect’s actions. Other organisations, including the New York Times and ProPublica, have also reported experiencing similar errors, leading to misleading summaries of political events and public figures. Critics argue these inaccuracies erode public trust in both journalism and technology.
The feature has drawn criticism from multiple sectors. Alan Rusbridger, former editor of The Guardian, has called the technology “out of control” and warned of its potential to worsen misinformation. Journalism organisations like the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have also called for the feature’s removal, arguing it is not mature enough for public use.
In response, Apple has announced it will issue a software update in the coming weeks to clearly label AI-generated summaries. The company has described the feature as being in beta and claims it is improving through user feedback. Apple has also encouraged users to report any inaccuracies. Despite these measures, critics, including the RSF, argue that such steps merely shift the responsibility to users without addressing the underlying flaws in the AI system.
For now, Apple users who wish to avoid potential misinformation may prefer to disable the AI summarisation feature through their device settings pending a fix, and rely on direct access to other trusted news sources. While Apple’s ambitions to streamline news consumption align with trends in AI innovation, the backlash highlights the risks of perhaps deploying immature technology in sensitive areas like news and public information. This controversy also raises broader questions about accountability in the tech industry as companies race to integrate AI into everyday tools.