By Sam Boughedda
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) reportedly blocked an update of a ChatGPT-powered app due to concerns over AI's potential harm, according to The Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
The publication states that communications Apple sent to the app maker show that the approval of an email app update with AI-powered language tools was postponed due to concerns it could result in inappropriate content for children. However, the developer disagrees with Apple's decision.
Last week, Apple blocked an update from BlueMail, an email app, due to concerns regarding a new AI feature in the app, which they believe could show inappropriate content, according to BlueMail's co-founder and developer of Blix Inc., Ben Volach.
A new AI feature in BlueMail utilizes OpenAI's latest ChatGPT chatbot to help write emails using the contents of prior emails and calendar events.
In a document seen by the WSJ, sent to BlueMail, Apple reportedly said the "app includes AI-generated content but does not appear to include content filtering at this time."
Apple's app review team told the company that as the app could produce inappropriate content, BlueMail should raise its age restriction to 17 and older, or include content filtering, although Volach said it has filtering capabilities.
He told the WSJ that Apple "is making it really hard for us to bring innovation to our users."
Following Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Bing search engine powered by ChatGPT release, early testers raised concerns about responses generated by the chatbot, such as incorrect information and somewhat unhinged and angry responses.