SAN FRANCISCO, California – In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and social media company X, announced on Monday, Jun 10, his intention to ban Apple devices from his companies.
This drastic measure is contingent upon Apple’s integration of OpenAI technology at the operating system level, a move Musk described as an “unacceptable security violation.”
The announcement comes on the heels of Apple’s revelation of new AI features set to enhance its apps and operating platforms.
A key aspect of this update includes a partnership with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT technology into Apple devices.
Apple has assured users that these AI features are designed with privacy as a priority, utilizing a blend of on-device processing and cloud computing to safeguard data security.
Despite these reassurances, Musk remains unconvinced. He argued that Apple’s reliance on OpenAI technology compromises its ability to ensure user privacy and security.
“Apple’s integration of OpenAI is a significant risk,” Musk stated. “We cannot trust these devices within our facilities, as they pose a potential threat to our proprietary information and the security of our operations.”
To enforce this stance, Musk declared that visitors to his companies’ facilities would be required to leave their Apple devices in a Faraday cage at the entrance, effectively blocking all electronic signals and ensuring no data can be transmitted.
Industry experts, however, are skeptical of Musk’s position. Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, suggested that Musk’s stance is unlikely to gain widespread support.
“Apple has built a reputation for prioritizing user privacy,” Bajarin noted. “They anonymize and firewall user data, ensuring that even Apple cannot access it. Their private cloud services are designed to be as secure as on-device storage.”
Musk’s criticism of OpenAI is not new. A co-founder of the organization in 2015, Musk has had a contentious relationship with OpenAI, culminating in a lawsuit earlier this year.
He alleged that OpenAI had deviated from its original mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity.
In response, Musk launched his own AI venture, xAI, which recently secured a valuation of $24 billion following a significant funding round. xAI aims to compete directly with OpenAI and provide alternatives to the popular ChatGPT.
