Welcome to another issue of the Digital Watch weekly!
The Apple-OpenAI partnership is now official! Apple has announced that ChatGPT from OpenAI will be integrated into Siri for free later this year on iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. This feature will be optional. Apple users can ask Siri a question, and if Siri doesn’t fully understand or can’t complete their request, it might suggest asking ChatGPT. For instance, Siri might ask: ‘Hey, do you want to ask ChatGPT?’ This means Apple users can now tap into ChatGPT’s advanced capabilities and get answers. That begs the question of whether Apple is dropping out of the AI race. Certainly not, as the company just introduced ‘Apple Intelligence’, a new AI system designed to be deeply integrated into Apple’s ecosystem. At least for now, Apple’s AI efforts will prioritise wide usability, while leaving chatbot development to companies like OpenAI and Google.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s head of software engineering, acknowledged that ChatGPT is one of the best large language models (LLMs) currently available, which is why Apple chose to integrate it into Siri.
Apple had also been negotiating with Google, ultimately choosing OpenAI. According to Federighi, Apple is open to other partnerships as well. So, while the initial collaboration is with ChatGPT, we might see other models, too, with Apple’s approval and the deals they strike.
One person made sure this partnership would get even more attention. He is a tech mogul, billionaire, and well-known for his online trolling—yes, of course, it’s Elon Musk. The CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and the social media company X (formerly known as Twitter) has announced (on X) a ban on Apple devices in his companies and that visitors ‘will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage’. Why? Musk contends that the Apple-OpenAI partnership is an ‘unacceptable security violation’. Specifically, Musk is worried that integrating ChatGPT into Apple’s products could compromise users’ privacy and security by allowing OpenAI to access and use user data without explicit permission. Although Apple said that user queries sent to ChatGPT will not be stored by OpenAI, it seems Musk is not buying it. Can we expect this ban to become a reality? Given Musk’s history with OpenAI, it’s unclear if he’s serious or just trolling once again.
Staying with Elon Musk and OpenAI, Musk’s lawyers moved to dismiss his lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, ending a months-long legal battle. Interestingly, this move came just a day after Musk criticised OpenAI’s and Apple’s partnership.
Musk’s lawsuit alleges that OpenAI strayed from its founding principles to develop AI solely for the betterment of humanity, not for profit. Musk claimed that OpenAI had breached its founding agreement by prioritising commercial interests over the public good, particularly with its partnership with Microsoft. In response, OpenAI argued that the lawsuit was a baseless attempt by Musk to further his own interests in the AI sector.
Why the sudden change? This is unclear, as Musk’s attorneys filed the dismissal request in California state court without specifying a reason. Despite withdrawing the lawsuit, Musk dismissed the case without prejudice, leaving the door open for potential future legal action.
In other news, the G7 summit kicked off on Thursday in Italy. One of the main topics of discussion is AI. And here’s a historic first: Pope Francis will join the discussions on AI ethics. So, what might happen? Pope Francis is expected to advocate for international cooperation in regulating AI, highlighting the need to address global technology inequalities and threats like AI weapons and misinformation. Pope Francis’s engagement at the G7 reflects his active involvement in contemporary issues, as he aims to shape AI development ethically for the benefit of humanity.
To wrap up this week’s run-through, here are two rather bizarre stories: A Turkish student has been jailed for cheating on an exam by using AI, and Berlin is set to launch the world’s first cyber brothel.
The government anticipates that AI will be crucial in managing and analysing lawsuits more efficiently, alerting them to potential actions before final decisions are made, thereby mitigating significant financial losses.
The measures will broaden existing export controls to cover US-branded goods manufactured globally, addressing loopholes that have allowed Russia to adapt economically.
The legislation seeks to enforce fair practices, prohibit the exploitation of user data, and ensure users can choose third-party apps and default settings.
ICANN has named Kurt Erik Lindqvist as its new President and CEO, effective 5 December 2024. Kurt will be based in both the Geneva office and the Los Angeles headquarters.
Switzerland ramps up security measures amidst a rise in cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns ahead of the Ukraine peace summit, pointing to potential Russian involvement.
Is our software secure? Watch the latest Geneva Dialogue Podcast [ep 3] with Bert Hubert as we discuss cyber norms, stakeholder responsibilities, and the role of open-source software in enhancing security.
EuroDIG 2024 will occur in Vilnius, Lithuania from June 17–19. The conference is a multistakeholder platform created in 2008 to discuss internet governance annually in various European cities.
There has been a steady shift from using mind maps to relying on external maps. What impact does this have on human cognition and our decision-making processes? Aldo Matteucci analyses.
