In a significant development, Apple has put a pause on a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that provided summaries of news headlines due to frequent errors and rising criticism. 

The tool, which sent notifications seemingly from within news apps, had been under increasing pressure for withdrawal. Apple confirmed that they are working on improvements and will launch them in an upcoming software update. 

News organisations and journalistic bodies like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) expressed concerns that such tools can compromise the public's access to reliable information. RSF’s Vincent Berthier emphasised that any future rollout should ensure absolute accuracy. Consequently, Apple has deactivated the feature entirely for news and entertainment apps.

This development has shed light on the potential pitfalls of AI, particularly its tendency to create content with inaccuracies. As AI-generated content increasingly gains prominence, its reliability becomes a crucial factor. 

The situation also highlighted the risk to the credibility of news organisations such as the BBC, where trust is a fundamental principle. The BBC expressed satisfaction over Apple’s decision to suspend the AI tool and looks forward to further collaborations, prioritising accurate news delivery. 

Despite Apple's considerable resources, this incident underscores the ongoing challenges in AI technology development.

- CyberBeat