Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, expressed concerns on social media about Apple’s partnership with OpenAI and threatened to ban Apple devices from his companies. Musk criticized Apple for what he called an “unacceptable security violation” and claimed that the company has “no clue what’s actually going on.” Apple had announced a new Siri update that integrates with OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot, asking users for permission to share their questions without logging their information.
Musk specifically mentioned banning Apple devices if OpenAI is integrated at the operating system level, a claim Apple refuted by stating that the integration with OpenAI is optional and that they use their own AI technology. Musk responded to an Apple executive’s post and warned that Apple devices will not be allowed on his companies’ premises unless Apple stops what he called “creepy spyware.” Musk has been critical of OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, even suing them earlier this year for allegedly abandoning the company’s original mission.
Tesla, Musk’s largest company, has undergone layoffs exceeding 10% of its workforce this year. Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but stepped down from its board in 2018. He recently raised $6 billion for xAI, a competitor to OpenAI, and launched its first product, Grok, as an alternative to ChatGPT. Aside from Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, Musk is also involved in other ventures such as Neuralink, a brain interface startup, and the Boring Company, which focuses on tunneling technology.
Musk’s strong stance against Apple’s partnership with OpenAI shows his commitment to data security and privacy. Despite Apple’s assurances that user information will not be logged, Musk remains skeptical of how the integration will impact users. The ongoing dispute between Musk, OpenAI, and Apple highlights tensions in the tech industry regarding AI development and ethical practices. Musk’s efforts in funding xAI as a competitor to OpenAI further demonstrate his dedication to advancing AI technology in a way that aligns with his vision for the future.
