Apple Blocks ChatGPT-powered iOS App

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With the growing trend of integrating AI-powered chatbots into software products, concerns are being raised about the potential risks involved.

While some companies are free to launch such products on their own platforms, those using third-party app stores may face difficulties.

This Thursday Apple blocked the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in an email app called BlueMail, delaying the approval of an update that introduced AI-powered feature in its Email.

Why has Apple blocked ChatGPT?

The feature is designed to assist users in writing emails by pulling text from past emails in order to write new ones, but there are concerns about the possibility of it generating inappropriate content for minors.

Apple has requested that BlueMail revise its age rating or implement content filtering in response to concerns about the app’s potential to expose children to inappropriate content.

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BlueMail CEO criticizes Apple’s decision

Blix CEO and Founder Ben Volach have criticized Apple’s decision, stating that it is unfair and discriminatory towards BlueMail.

In an interview with WSJ he called the request “unfair,” pointing out that there are similar AI-powered apps on the App Store without such restrictions.

Apple’s decision to block the BlueMail update has raised questions about the company’s policies regarding AI-powered apps and the potential impact on their availability on the App Store.

The conflict between BlueMail and Apple goes beyond just the recent block of the app’s ChatGPT integration. In fact, Blix, the developer of BlueMail, has a history of clashes with Apple. Blix was one of the founding members of the Coalition for App Fairness, a group set up to challenge the commission that Apple takes from the App Store. Additionally, Blix has filed antitrust lawsuits against Apple several times in the past.

BlueMail has also struggled to gain traction on the App Store. In 2019, the app was removed from the storefront for violating guidelines related to data security. Although the app was reinstated a few days later, Blix filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging that the tech giant suppresses competition by lowering BlueMail’s ranking in search results and listings.

The recent block of BlueMail’s ChatGPT integration by Apple is just the latest episode in the ongoing conflict between the two companies. It remains to be seen whether Blix’s complaints will be addressed by Apple or if the conflict will escalate further.

Final word

This incident highlights the challenges and potential risks associated with the integration of AI-powered chatbots and language models into applications.

While these technologies have the potential to greatly improve user experiences and increase efficiency, they must be carefully designed and monitored to ensure that they do not generate inappropriate or harmful content.

As companies continue to integrate AI into their products, they must be prepared to address these concerns and work closely with regulators and platform providers to ensure compliance with safety and content standards.