Apple Kills AI News Feature After Fabricating Stories and Twisting Real Headlines
The Problems with Apple’s AI News
Apple’s AI news feature was supposed to make life easier by summarizing news alerts from multiple sources. However, it created chaos by pushing out fake news, often under trusted media brands.
The Issues with Apple’s AI News
- Using the BBC’s logo, it invented a story claiming tennis star Rafael Nadal had come out as gay, completely misunderstanding a story about a Brazilian player.
- It jumped the gun by announcing teenage darts player Luke Littler had won the PDC World Championship – before he’d even played in the final.
- In a more serious blunder, it created a fake BBC alert claiming Luigi Mangione, who’s accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had killed himself.
- The system stamped The New York Times’ name on a completely made-up story about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being arrested.
Consequences of Apple’s AI News
- The BBC filed a formal complaint, and press groups such as Reporters Without Borders warned that letting AI rewrite the news puts the public’s right to accurate information at risk.
- The National Union of Journalists called for the feature to be removed, saying readers shouldn’t have to guess whether what they’re reading is real.
Research on AI-Generated News
Research has previously shown that even when people learn that AI-created media is fake, it still leaves a psychological ‘mark’ that persists afterwards.
Apple’s Response
Apple plans to resurrect the feature with warning labels and special formatting to show when AI creates the summaries.
Conclusion
Apple’s AI news feature was a well-intentioned attempt to make life easier, but it ultimately failed to deliver accurate information. The consequences of its mistakes were severe, and it’s a reminder that AI-generated news requires careful consideration and oversight to ensure accuracy and trust.
FAQs
Q: Why did Apple kill its AI news feature?
A: Apple killed its AI news feature after it fabricated stories and twisted real headlines, causing chaos and inaccuracies.
Q: What were some of the issues with Apple’s AI news feature?
A: Apple’s AI news feature invented stories, jumped the gun on announcements, and created fake news under trusted media brands.
Q: What did the BBC and other press groups say about Apple’s AI news feature?
A: The BBC filed a formal complaint, and press groups such as Reporters Without Borders warned that letting AI rewrite the news puts the public’s right to accurate information at risk.
Q: What is Apple planning to do with its AI news feature?
A: Apple plans to resurrect the feature with warning labels and special formatting to show when AI creates the summaries.
