According to a report released by wall street journal According to (WSJ), Apple has introduced restrictions on how employees can use AI tools like ChatGPT. Not too surprising considering the Cupertino tech company is notoriously wary of leaks. The WSJ reports that Apple is busy developing “its own similar technology,” so employees won’t forever be penalized by a lack of AI assistance. The report is based on internal Apple documents that appear to support these claims, as well as anonymous sources “familiar with the matter.”
One of the problems with using AI based on Large Language Models (LLM) is that tools typically use interactions (inputs, questions, etc.) as training data. Samsung ran into this kind of problem in his April, leaking its own data from its use of ChatGPT. A fab engineer at a South Korean tech giant uses his ChatGPT assistance for coding, note-taking, and data analysis on fab performance and yield, and his three cases of data breaches traced to his use of ChatGPT. tracked by
ChatGPT is not only prone to leaking other users’ data through training, but it also has vulnerabilities and bugs like any other software. Earlier this week, a vulnerability was identified that facilitates injection via YouTube transcripts. In March, ChatGPT was briefly taken offline after it was discovered that some users of ChatGPT were able to view the titles of other users’ chat histories.
In response to increasing reports on data security, OpenAI has introduced new privacy controls and “incognito mode” for AI assistance with sensitive documents. Perhaps these measures haven’t gone far enough for Apple. Another AI tool specifically mentioned in the WSJ report is GitHub’s Copilot (Microsoft), which developers use to save time with its smart code autocompletion feature.
Not much is known about Apple’s own claimed LLM AI progress. The company has acquired various AI companies in recent years and hired talent, including executive John Gianandrea, who once worked on Google’s search and AI teams. With Microsoft and Google fully committed to his AI race, even pitching AI-powered apps and widgets to Apple’s iOS store, Apple can’t put up with its own solutions too much.
Apple’s developer conference, WWDC23, kicks off on June 23rd, so we’ll probably see some AI news soon. AI-enhanced Siri could be announced, as well as the highly anticipated Reality Pro AR/VR headset, new Macs, and new desktop, mobile, and wearable operating systems.
