Elon Musk to Ban Apple Devices at His Companies Over OpenAI Integration Concerns

On Monday, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of social media platform X, announced that Apple devices would be banned within his companies if Apple integrates OpenAI at the operating system level.

Musk cited serious security concerns, labeling such an integration as an "unacceptable security violation." He stated that employees and visitors would need to leave their Apple devices at the door, to be stored in a Faraday cage to block electronic communication.

This announcement followed Apple's reveal of numerous AI features at the WWDC 2024 event. Highlights included Apple Intelligence, an AI-driven enhancement of Siri, and new operating systems: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, VisionOS 2, macOS Sequoia, and WatchOS 11. Apple also announced a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT technology into its devices.

Despite Apple's reassurances that its AI developments prioritize privacy through a mix of on-device processing and cloud computing, Musk was not convinced. He criticized Apple's reliance on OpenAI, questioning their ability to ensure data security and privacy.

Apple also plans to revamp the Control Center for a more personalized experience, allowing users to incorporate controls from third-party apps and rearrange the layout.

Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, suggested that it is unlikely others would follow Musk's stance. He noted that Apple's strategy involves educating users about the security of private cloud systems, which offer the same level of data protection as on-device storage.

Musk's criticism is further complicated by his history with OpenAI, a company he co-founded in 2015. Earlier this year, he filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, accusing them of deviating from their original mission to create AI for the public good and instead pursuing profit-driven goals.