Apple and OpenAI set the internet abuzz after announcing that the former will be “integrating ChatGPT into experiences within iOS, iPadOS, and macOS” later this year.
This unprecedented partnership excites Apple users and ChatGPT enthusiasts as it would allow them to use Apple’s apps and ChatGPT functions without switching tabs. It would also allow Siri, Apple’s digital assistant, to generate answers directly from ChatGPT.
Everyone is looking forward to this integration, especially with artificial intelligence’s increasing popularity.
Well, everyone except Elon Musk.
As you may have known (or not), Musk has been one of the early investors of OpenAI. In fact, OpenAI considers Musk a co-founder.
But shortly after ChatGPT took the world by storm and became viral in the latter part of 2022, OpenAI and Musk had a falling out.
Elon has sued and accused OpenAI of diverging from its original non-profit mission, suggesting it should rename itself “ClosedAI”. Musk eventually dropped the suit after OpenAI published his prior emails acknowledging the need for the company to make large sums of money to fund its computing resources.
However, there’s now a new chapter in the story since OpenAI is partnering with Apple.
In a series of tweets, Elon Musk announced that “If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned” at his companies.
For context, he is the head of SpaceX, Tesla Inc., X (formerly Twitter), The Boring Company, xAI, and Neuralink and currently, employs around 110,000 people worldwide.
But why is he going to such extremes?
According to Musk, Apple cannot ensure that OpenAI will protect security and privacy. As such, he will be banning all Apple devices, from all his companies.
This means that Musk’s employees can’t bring their iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads into company premises. The ban would also extend to visitors and guests dropping by his offices and/or factories.
This announcement leaves technology and security experts divided. Some support Musk’s assertion that Apple Intelligence will pose security risks. Meanwhile, others stand by Apple’s data protection efforts and transparency.
Despite Musk’s threat, one thing is clear: AI is becoming more and more entwined with our lives. We use AI prompts to answer questions, craft policies, and improve our businesses.
Artificial intelligence, therefore, will continue to be integrated into many devices – whether the Elon Musks of the world like it or not.
Apple is just the beginning.
Note: This guest post is written by Rica Jankulovski. As the CEO of Remote Staff, Rica Jankulovski has been helping small-to-medium sized companies grow faster by matching them with world-class Filipino remote talent. Having grown up in the Philippines and currently living in Australia while working with several international businesses has equipped her with a deep understanding of Western and Filipino cultures, enabling her to empower both her clients and remote talents to work together towards meaningful success in both work and in life.
