Elon Musk Threatens to Ban iPhones Over Apple's OpenAI Integration

In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, has threatened to ban iPhones from all his companies. This comes as a response to Apple's announcement of OpenAI integrations at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 on Monday.

Musk took to X to express his concerns about the potential integration of OpenAI at the operating system (OS) level by Apple. He stated that if Apple follows through with this integration, iPhones will be prohibited within his businesses. Visitors would be required to check their Apple devices at the door and have them stored in a Faraday cage.

It seems that Musk's posts reflect a misunderstanding of the relationship Apple announced with OpenAI. Both Apple and OpenAI have emphasized that user consent is obtained before any data, including questions, documents, or photos, is shared with OpenAI's ChatGPT. However, Musk's responses indicate his belief that OpenAI is deeply integrated into Apple's OS and could potentially access personal and private data.

Apple explained that in iOS 18, users can ask Siri questions, and if Siri believes that ChatGPT can provide assistance, it will seek permission to share the question and present the answer directly. This functionality allows users to obtain answers from ChatGPT without opening the ChatGPT app. The same treatment applies to photos, PDFs, and other documents shared with ChatGPT.

Musk, however, expressed a preference for OpenAI's capabilities to remain confined to a dedicated app rather than a Siri integration. He argued that if users have to approve specific requests on a per-request basis, OpenAI should simply remain as an app, calling the current integration "bullshit."

In response to a post by Sam Pullara, a VC and CTO at Sutter Hill Ventures, who explained that the integration was similar to the existing ChatGPT app, Musk insisted that OpenAI's capabilities should not be deeply integrated into Apple's system.

Moreover, Musk criticized Apple CEO Tim Cook, stating that Apple's claim to protect privacy while relying on a third-party AI that they do not understand is contradictory. He even threatened to ban Apple devices from his company premises, referring to the integration as "creepy spyware."

While it's true that Apple may not have complete knowledge of OpenAI's inner workings, the choice to share data ultimately resides with the user. Apple's announcement also included an integration that would allow users to access ChatGPT system-wide within Writing Tools, making it easier to utilize ChatGPT for various tasks.

Apple users might not fully grasp the privacy concerns at hand, which is likely what Musk is banking on by voicing his complaints. He implies that if users had more control over their preferred AI bots for Siri requests or writing assistance, the integration would not be as concerning.

Apple stated that users' requests and information are not logged, and OpenAI reiterated that requests are not stored and users' IP addresses are obscured. Additionally, users have the option to connect their ChatGPT accounts and apply their data preferences under ChatGPT's policies.

The integration of ChatGPT into Apple's ecosystem is set to arrive in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia later this year. It will be available on iPhone Pro 15 models and devices powered by M1 or newer chips.

It remains to be seen how this conflict between Musk and Apple unfolds, but it is clear that the integration of OpenAI into Apple's operating system has raised concerns regarding user privacy and data security.