Elon Musk threatens to ban Apple devices from his companies over Apple’s ChatGPT integrations

Jun 11, 2024

Elon Musk threatens to ban Apple devices over ChatGPT integrations, citing privacy concerns despite Apple's assurances on data control.

: Elon Musk has threatened to ban Apple devices from his companies due to Apple's integration of OpenAI's ChatGPT, expressing concerns over user privacy. Musk's interpretation suggests Apple is handing over personal data to OpenAI, although Apple insists that data sharing is user-controlled. Apple claims users are always asked for permission before any information is shared, while OpenAI states that requests are not stored.

Elon Musk reacted strongly to Apple's WWDC 2024 announcement about integrating OpenAI's ChatGPT into iOS 18, threatening to ban Apple devices from his companies. He believes this integration undermines user privacy, despite assurances from Apple and OpenAI that users have control over what data is shared with ChatGPT.

Musk's posts on X suggest he thinks OpenAI's integration at the OS level allows extensive access to personal data, a view he aired in multiple responses to tech industry figures. Apple has clarified that user requests to ChatGPT are made with explicit user permission and that they do not log the data.

Apple also introduced system-wide integrations of ChatGPT in writing tools and other features, positioning it as a user-friendly and no-cost service. This integration is expected to boost OpenAI's user base significantly, although Musk argues that it introduces significant privacy risks that Apple is not adequately addressing.