Elon Musk Threatens Apple Device Ban Over OpenAI Integration
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk stirred controversy on Monday with a bold statement threatening to ban Apple devices from his companies if the tech giant integrates OpenAI at the operating system level.
In a strongly worded post on his social media platform X, Musk, who leads Tesla, SpaceX, and X, expressed serious concerns about what he termed an “unacceptable security violation.” He announced plans to enforce stringent measures, including requiring visitors to check their Apple devices at the door, where they would be stored in Faraday cages.
Neither Apple nor OpenAI immediately responded to requests for comment on Musk’s remarks.
Earlier the same day, Apple had unveiled a range of AI features across its apps and platforms, alongside a partnership with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT technology into its devices. Apple emphasized its commitment to privacy, highlighting a combination of on-device processing and secure cloud computing to power AI functionalities.
Musk criticized Apple’s decision, questioning the company’s ability to safeguard user security and privacy while relying on OpenAI for AI capabilities. He described Apple’s approach as “patently absurd,” asserting that the company should develop its own AI solutions rather than outsourcing to OpenAI.
Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, noted the unlikelihood of others following Musk’s lead, highlighting Apple’s efforts to educate users on the security of private cloud computing compared to on-device data storage.
Meanwhile, Musk recently filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, accusing them of deviating from the startup’s original mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity rather than commercial gain. Musk has since launched xAI, a competing startup aimed at challenging OpenAI and developing alternative AI technologies.
In its latest funding round, xAI achieved a valuation of $24 billion, securing $6 billion in series B funding to advance its innovative AI solutions.
