Musk Threatens to Ban Staff From Owning Apple Products Over OpenAI Deal

Elon Musk has threatened to ban staff at his companies from using Apple devices as the iPhone maker announced it’s integrating OpenAI technology.

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced at the company’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference that OpenAI technology will be integrated into the company’s products.

Reacting to the news, Musk said the integration is “an unacceptable security violation.”

“Visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage,” Musk wrote.

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, is now leading a rival startup xAI. The company recently raised $6 billion and is building the world’s largest supercomputer for AI training in Memphis, Tennessee.

Decrying the deal, he said it was “patently absurd” that Apple didn’t develop their own AI, instead licensing what he described as “creepy spyware” from OpenAI.

“Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI,” the X and Tesla CEO said. “They’re selling you down the river.”

“Apple using the words ‘protect your privacy’ while handing your data over to a third-party AI that they don’t understand and can’t themselves create is *not* protecting privacy at all,” Musk said.

Since founding xAI, Musk has called out OpenAI, claiming it’s not taking AI safety seriously and is focusing on profits as part of its deal with Microsoft.

Related:Apple Integrates ChatGPT Across Platforms, Unveils Apple Intelligence

He filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in March for breach of contract after it created a for-profit arm that is 49% owned by Microsoft.
OpenAI rebuffed Musk’s legal claims, however, contending the billionaire was simply bitter that it succeeded without him.