Apple’s new AI feature under fire after wrongly summarizing news report

Apple’s recently launched AI feature, Notification Summary, is facing criticism after inaccurately summarizing a BBC report. The AI falsely claimed that Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, had died by suicide—a statement that was completely untrue. This incident has sparked backlash from media organizations and advocacy groups, with some calling for the feature to be removed.

The BBC, whose report was misrepresented, stated that it contacted Apple to address the error. A spokesperson for the news organization emphasized the importance of accurate representation, saying, “BBC News is the most trusted news media in the world. It is essential that our audiences can rely on any information or journalism published in our name, including notifications.”

Apple has not yet issued a public response regarding the controversy.

The incident has drawn criticism from Reporters Without Borders, a global press freedom organization. Vincent Berthier, head of the group’s technology and journalism desk, called on Apple to act responsibly, stating, “AIs are probability machines, and facts can’t be decided by a roll of the dice. The automated production of false information attributed to a media outlet undermines its credibility and endangers the public’s right to reliable news.”

This blunder highlights the risks associated with AI-driven summaries in journalism. By distorting facts or omitting critical context, such features can mislead audiences, damage the reputation of news outlets, and contribute to the spread of misinformation. These inaccuracies can have wide-reaching consequences, fuelling rumours, misunderstandings, or even public panic.

AI algorithms, while efficient, are not infallible. They can emphasize certain details of a story while neglecting others, creating a skewed or incomplete narrative. This underscores the need for stringent oversight and verification mechanisms in AI-powered tools used for disseminating news.