Apple has temporarily halted the display of notification summaries for news and entertainment apps in the latest iOS 18.3 developer beta, released on Thursday. According to reports from MacRumors and 9to5Mac, the tech giant is addressing criticism surrounding the AI-powered feature, which was found to inaccurately summarize content from outlets like the BBC.

The Apple Intelligence-powered feature, which was introduced to provide users with concise summaries of news articles, faced backlash after it wrongly summarized content from reputable sources. In one notable instance, the BBC called out Apple for misrepresenting its coverage of the UnitedHealth shooter, suggesting that Luigi Mangione shot himself. Apple later acknowledged the error and promised to roll out an update to "further clarify when the text being displayed is summarization provided by Apple Intelligence."

In the new iOS 18.3 beta, Apple will make it clear that the notification summary feature is still in beta and "may contain errors." Additionally, users will be able to disable notifications for specific apps from the lock screen or Notification Center by swiping, tapping 'Options,' and choosing the 'Turn Off Summaries' option. The company will also use italicized text on the lock screen to distinguish notification summaries from standard notifications.

The move is seen as a step towards improving the accuracy and reliability of the AI-powered feature. Apple has not provided a specific timeline for when the feature will be reenabled, but 9to5Mac reports that it will be reinstated "with a future software update." The Verge reached out to Apple for further information but did not receive an immediate response.

The development raises questions about the limitations and potential pitfalls of relying on AI-powered summarization tools. While the feature was intended to provide users with a convenient way to stay informed, its inaccuracies have sparked concerns about the spread of misinformation. As Apple continues to refine its notification summary feature, it remains to be seen how the company will balance the need for concise information with the importance of accuracy and reliability.

The pause on notification summaries for news and entertainment apps is a significant development in the ongoing evolution of iOS 18.3. As Apple works to address the issues surrounding its AI-powered feature, users can expect to see further improvements and refinements in future software updates.