Elon Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday and announced plans to ban the use of Apple devices at his companies if the Cupertino giant incorporates OpenAI technology into its operating system. Musk, known for his roles as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as owner of X, criticised the potential security risks of integrating OpenAI at the OS level.
"If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation," Musk stated in his tweet. He further elaborated that visitors to his companies would be required to surrender their Apple devices, which would then be stored in a Faraday cage to prevent any potential data breaches.
He went on to claim that claim that Apple doesn't have any "clue" on "what's actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI." He didn't hold back on expressing his qualms on Apple's capability of providing user security whilst partnering with Sam Altman-led OpenAI.
Apple's AI Move
This declaration from Musk came in response to Apple's recent announcement of AI features across its platforms and a partnership with OpenAI to introduce ChatGPT technology to its devices.
Apple emphasised its commitment to privacy, asserting that AI features would prioritise on-device processing and utilise cloud computing for enhanced functionality while safeguarding user data.
Does Apple Really Access To User Data?
As reported by Reuters, industry experts like Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, suggested that Apple's approach aimed to educate users about the security of private cloud storage compared to on-device data storage.
Bajarin highlighted Apple's efforts to anonymise and firewall user data when transferred to secure private cloud servers, emphasising that Apple would not have direct access to such data. This narrative shift by Apple aimed to assure users of the privacy and security measures implemented in its AI-powered features.
This Is Not Musk's First Move Against OpenAI
Earlier this year, Musk actually sued OpenAI, which he co-founded in 2015, claiming that the company has abandoned its original mission and has shifted focus towards profit-driven endeavours rather than its original mission of AI development for societal benefit.
Musk has initiated his own venture, xAI, as a direct challenge to OpenAI, aiming to develop alternative AI solutions, including a competitor to the popular ChatGPT chatbot.