Image credit: Grox/X

Apple has halted a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature designed to summarize news headlines, following widespread criticism and complaints over repeated inaccuracies. The decision comes after pressure from media outlets and users concerned about the impact of AI-generated errors on misinformation and trust in news.

The feature, which launched in the UK in December, provided AI-generated summaries of app notifications for news and entertainment apps, grouping updates into single alerts on lock screens. However, issues quickly surfaced, including false alerts attributed to reputable news organisations.

One high-profile error involved an alert generated by Apple’s AI falsely stating that Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself. Media organizations, including the BBC, criticized the inaccuracies, with other errors reported from AI summaries of headlines from The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Apple initially resisted pulling the feature, promising a future software update to clarify the AI’s role in generating summaries. However, continued backlash led to the suspension of the feature for news and entertainment apps. Apple confirmed the move in a statement:

"With the latest beta software releases of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, Notification summaries for the News & Entertainment category will be temporarily unavailable. We are working on improvements and will make them available in a future software update."

For other apps, AI-generated summaries will continue but will now appear italicized to distinguish them from regular alerts.

The BBC welcomed the suspension, stating:

"We’re pleased that Apple has listened to our concerns and is pausing the summarisation feature for news. We look forward to working constructively on next steps. Our priority is the accuracy of the news we deliver to audiences, which is essential to building and maintaining trust."

The now-disabled feature had been intended to streamline user experiences by making notification summaries more efficient. Its rollout was part of Apple’s broader push to showcase AI developments, with investors hoping such innovations would drive demand for iPhones and other products.

The suspension comes as Apple faces additional challenges, including falling sales in China, which led to a 4% drop in the company’s shares on Thursday. This latest misstep highlights the challenges of integrating AI into consumer services while maintaining accuracy and trust, especially in sensitive areas like news dissemination.

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