Elon Musk says he will block iPhone and other Apple devices

Elon Musk says he will ban the use of Apple devices in his companies if the iPhone maker continues with plans to use OpenAI technology in its phones.

Apple announced that it will integrate the technology so that users talking to Siri will be able to forward some queries to ChatGPT, OpenAI’s large language model.

But Musk said such an update would be an “unacceptable security breach.”

“If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, Apple devices will be banned from my companies,” he wrote on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, which he owns.

“Visitors will need to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage,” which is a closed box that prevents incoming and outgoing wireless signals.

Musk’s ban will likely affect SpaceX and Tesla, in addition to X.

Apple previously announced that the feature would be available later this year. OpenAI has confirmed that its technology will be widely integrated into the operating system.

Both OpenAI and Apple have emphasized that this will include privacy protections. “Requests are not stored by OpenAI and user IP addresses are hidden,” OpenAI said in its announcement.

The integration will mean that Siri requests can also be sent to ChatGPT. They will be able to forward questions – as well as documents and photos – for help.

It will also be available as part of Apple’s new system called “Writing Tools.” This allows users to generate content for their own writing or rewrite documents using fewer words or in different styles.

Apple will also integrate OpenAI image generation technology to create illustrations that can be placed alongside documents.

All of these features are part of a suite of features called “Apple Intelligence.” While this feature relies primarily on Apple’s own technologies, it also integrates those with OpenAI.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was present at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference where the new features were unveiled, although he did not appear during the presentation.

Musk and OpenAI have a long and complicated history. He was one of the company’s founders when it launched in late 2015, but gradually became increasingly hostile towards it, criticizing it for failing to follow its basic principles.

He has since sued the company and Altman, accusing them of putting profits first and failing to fulfill their original mission. In response, OpenAI said it refuted all of Musk’s claims.

Musk has also had a sometimes contentious relationship with Apple.

In 2022, he publicly attacked Apple and its CEO Tim Cook over the cuts it takes from iPhone payments. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Musk met with Mr. Cook at Apple’s headquarters.