Elon Musk has threatened to ban iPhones from all his companies due to the newly announced OpenAI integrations unveiled at WWDC 2024 on Monday. In a series of posts on X, the Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI executive stated that if Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, Apple devices would be prohibited from his businesses. Visitors would need to check their Apple devices at the door, where they would be stored in a Faraday cage.
Musk’s posts seem to misunderstand the nature of Apple’s relationship with OpenAI or, at the very least, attempt to cast doubt on user privacy. While both Apple and OpenAI have clarified that users are asked before any questions, documents, or photos are sent to ChatGPT, Musk’s comments suggest he believes OpenAI is deeply integrated into Apple’s operating system and capable of accessing personal and private data.
With iOS 18, users will be able to ask Siri questions, and if the assistant thinks ChatGPT can help, it will ask for permission to share the question and present the answer directly. This allows users to receive responses from ChatGPT without opening the ChatGPT iOS app. The same permission is required for sending photos, PDFs, or other documents to ChatGPT.
Musk, however, prefers that OpenAI’s capabilities remain confined to a dedicated app rather than being integrated into Siri. Responding to Sam Pullara, CTO at Sutter Hill Ventures, who explained that users approve requests on a per-request basis and that OpenAI does not have access to the device, Musk wrote, “Then leave it as an app. This is bullshit.”
Pullara had noted that the way ChatGPT was integrated is similar to how the ChatGPT app works today. The on-device AI models are either Apple’s own or those using Apple’s Private Cloud.
Replying to YouTuber Marques Brownlee, who further explained Apple Intelligence, Musk stated, “Apple using the words ‘protect your privacy’ while handing your data over to a third-party AI that they don’t understand and can’t themselves create is not protecting privacy at all!” Musk also responded to Apple CEO Tim Cook, threatening to ban Apple devices from his companies if Cook didn’t “stop this creepy spyware.”
Musk exclaimed, “It’s patently absurd that Apple isn’t smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy! Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river.” While it’s true that Apple may not know the inner workings of OpenAI, it’s technically the user making the choice to share data, not Apple.
Apple also announced another integration allowing users to access ChatGPT system-wide within Writing Tools via a “compose” feature. For instance, users could ask ChatGPT to write a bedtime story in a document or generate images to complement their writing. These features will allow users to access ChatGPT for free without needing to create an account, which will likely result in a significant influx of requests from Apple users.
Musk’s complaints appear to capitalize on user confusion regarding privacy issues. If users could choose their preferred AI bot for Siri requests or writing help, such as Anthropic’s Claude or xAI’s Grok, Musk might not be as vocal about the integration’s dangers. Notably, Apple hinted that Google Gemini might be integrated in the future during a post-keynote session.
Apple has assured users that their requests and information are not logged. However, ChatGPT subscribers can connect their accounts to access paid features directly within Apple’s AI experiences. “Of course, you’re in control over when ChatGPT is used and will be asked before any of your information is shared. ChatGPT integration will be coming to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia later this year,” said Apple SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi. These features will only be available on iPhone Pro 15 models and devices with M1 or newer chips.
OpenAI reiterated in its blog post that requests are not stored by OpenAI, and users’ IP addresses are obscured. Users can also choose to connect their ChatGPT account, meaning their data preferences will apply under ChatGPT’s policies. This refers to the optional (opt-in) ability to connect the feature with a paid subscription.
