Elon Musk has threatened to ban Apple devices at his companies following Apple’s announcement to integrate OpenAI’s flagship AI model, ChatGPT, across its product line. This decision could impact billions of iPhones, Macs, and iPads.
“If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies,” Musk posted on Twitter after Apple’s AI announcements on Monday. “That is an unacceptable security violation.”
The CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and co-founder of Neuralink stated that this policy would also extend to guests. “Visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage,” he vowed.
Musk is not the first executive to ban AI tools from offices. Apple itself banned employees from using ChatGPT, the same tool it now plans to use to enhance Siri. Musk criticized Apple for partnering with OpenAI instead of developing its own generative AI model. “It’s patently absurd that Apple isn’t smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security and privacy,” he tweeted.
Apple has assured that Siri would ask for user permission before connecting to the AI model and that the implementation would be encrypted and secure. Musk remains skeptical, stating, “Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river.”
The rise of ChatGPT has led to bans at several organizations. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives prohibited staffers from using ChatGPT over privacy concerns. Samsung also banned the use of ChatGPT on company systems.
Musk’s aversion to ChatGPT, specifically, versus AI in general, likely stems from his long-standing conflict with OpenAI. Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but has repeatedly spoken out against the company. In March, Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman, accusing the company of straying from its humanitarian roots.
“This case is filed to compel OpenAI to adhere to the founding agreement and return to its mission to develop AGI for the benefit of humanity,” Musk said in the complaint, “not to personally benefit the individual defendants and the largest technology company in the world.”
In response, OpenAI published internal emails suggesting Musk was also motivated by profit, with Musk allegedly pushing for a $1 billion funding commitment to compete with Google and Facebook.
