Apple has announced that it is disabling AI-generated notification summaries for news and entertainment apps on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices, following backlash over inaccurate news alerts. The move comes as part of the latest developer previews for iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3.

The decision to pause notification summaries for these apps is a direct response to concerns raised by the BBC, which complained to Apple after one of its articles was misrepresented in a notification summary. The summary incorrectly stated that Luigi Mangione, the man charged in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself.

In addition to disabling notification summaries for news and entertainment apps, Apple is introducing changes to improve transparency and user control. From now on, all notification summaries will be displayed in italics, making it easier for users to distinguish them from regular notifications. Furthermore, users will be able to disable notification summaries for specific apps directly from their Lock Screen.

Apple will also start notifying users that the notification summaries feature is still in beta when they enable it. A notification in the Settings app will inform users that the feature may contain errors, a move that acknowledges the potential for inaccuracies.

The changes are not entirely unexpected, given Apple's previous announcement that it would release an update to "further clarify" that the text being displayed in a notification summary is generated by Apple Intelligence. While some had speculated that this would involve the introduction of a new label or badge, it appears that Apple has opted for a more subtle approach.

While a public beta of the updated operating systems is expected to land next week, it remains unclear when iOS 18.3 will be available to the general public. As Apple continues to refine its notification summaries feature, users can expect further updates and improvements in the coming weeks and months.

The move highlights the ongoing challenges of developing AI-powered features that can accurately summarize complex information. As tech companies increasingly rely on AI to drive user experiences, it is crucial that they prioritize transparency, accuracy, and user control. Apple's decision to pause and refine its notification summaries feature is a step in the right direction, and one that will likely be closely watched by the tech industry as a whole.