Yesterday, after Apple announced a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT support into the company’s devices, Elon Musk did what he always does: he tweeted. Written by the owner of X X, he said he would ban Apple devices from his company “if Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level.” And to that I say: go right ahead. While you’re at it, remove your company’s software from the Apple App Store as well.
Musk’s companies (at least the main ones) currently include Tesla, SpaceX, X, X AI, and Neuralink. Even if we’re just talking about phones – that’s why Counterpoint Research Apple currently has a 52 percent market share in the U.S. — if the aggregate statistics are correct, roughly 80,000 of Musk’s 155,000 employees would be subject to the ban. And that’s not counting anyone using a Mac computer or iPad. (Note: The largest share of these workers will be at Tesla, which has about 140,000 employees.)
Visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, which will be stored in a Faraday cage
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024
As we see now with the staff Reductions in X and Tesla, Musk’s management style can best be described as “being willing to shoot yourself in the foot.” But it seems particularly wrong that one of the world’s most famous gadget makers has been hit with a ban involving more than half of its employees. Yes, all this would be a headache (especially for the poor souls on his IT teams). But the real issue is that if Elon really cares about security, he’s only offering half measures.
Why stop at just banning Apple devices? Undoubtedly, the apps developed by their companies for iOS are also at risk. So why not grab apps for X, Tesla, and more from the Apple App Store? That would offer more insulation against the OpenAI threat, wouldn’t it?
It is absolutely absurd that Apple is not smart enough to create its own AI, but can somehow guarantee that OpenAI will protect your security and privacy!
Once you hand over your data to OpenAI, Apple doesn’t really know what’s going on. They sell you by the river.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024
Some of the stronger students here, I’m sure, have raised their hands by now. “But if the problem is ChatGPT integration at the OS level, doesn’t that mean Musk’s companies are banned from using Windows?” How You are right. And as a person of faith, I fully expect Elon to ban it those who and cars from his workplaces. I suspect its engineers will have a relatively painless time calculating the orbital trajectory of the spacecraft on the Ti-83.
Musk followed “It is absolutely absurd that Apple is not smart enough to create its own AI, but can somehow guarantee that OpenAI will protect your security and privacy! Once you hand over your data to OpenAI, Apple doesn’t really know what’s going on. They sell you by the river.”
Not surprisingly, that statement doesn’t accurately describe Apple and OpenAI’s partnership, as readers were quick to point out using X’s additional context feature. (On Musk’s own site, what a shame!) Apple says it will have its own AI models will work on either device or a personal cloud computing, and will only send data to OpenAI with the express permission of the user on a strict opt-in basis. So, despite Musk’s claims, there doesn’t seem to be much trickery there.
The bottom line is that as the founder and CEO of a handful of companies, Musk can do whatever he wants. And in that case, I encourage Elon to continue. Show us your posts aren’t bluffs, as some have already argued. Time to hang around and learn.
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