Elon Musk, head of Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, is at odds with Apple’s new partnership with OpenAI. On Monday, he threatened to ban Apple devices from his companies over Apple’s latest partnership with ChatGPT-parent.
The announcement comes in response to Apple’s unveiling of its latest artificial intelligence features during WWDC 2024, which include a significant collaboration with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT technology into its devices. Musk expressed serious concerns about potential security breaches and privacy violations resulting from this integration.
In a series of posts on his social media platform X, Musk criticized Apple’s decision, labeling it as “an unacceptable security violation.” He sternly questioned Apple’s ability to protect user privacy when relying on OpenAI’s technology.
If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024
Apple, however, assures users they will be prompted before any information is shared with ChatGPT. They claim their AI features prioritize privacy and utilize a combination of on-device processing and secure cloud computing. Musk, however, was not convinced.
Don’t want it.
Either stop this creepy spyware or all Apple devices will be banned from the premises of my companies.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024
Don’t want it.
Either stop this creepy spyware or all Apple devices will be banned from the premises of my companies.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024
This isn’t the first time Musk has clashed with OpenAI. He co-founded the company in 2015 but later left and sued them in March 2024, alleging they strayed from their original mission. Earlier this year, he even filed a lawsuit against the organization and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging that OpenAI has “abandoned its non-profit mission of developing AGI for the benefit of humanity broadly.”
The billionaire has since launched his own AI startup, xAI, aimed at challenging OpenAI’s dominance and offering an alternative to ChatGPT. xAI has quickly gained traction, receiving significant funding and valuation, positioning itself as a formidable competitor in the AI landscape. Just last month, the company announced it has raised a substantial $6 billion in Series B funding, establishing an $18 billion valuation before the money even hits the bank. This round features an impressive roster of investors including Valor Equity Partners, Vy Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Fidelity, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, and Kingdom Holding.
