AI writing tools in Apple’s iOS 18.1 come with content restrictions
Despite warnings, Apple’s AI tool still suggests text changes for restricted words.
Apple has introduced its new AI-powered Writing Tools in the iOS 18.1 developer beta, providing users with the ability to reformat or rewrite text using Apple’s AI models. However, the tool warns that AI-generated suggestions might not be of the highest quality when dealing with certain sensitive topics. Users will see a message alerting them when attempting to rewrite text containing swear words, references to drugs, or mentions of violence, indicating the tool wasn’t designed for such content.
Despite the warnings, the AI tool still offers suggestions even when encountering restricted words or phrases. During testing, replacing a swear word with a milder term resulted in the same AI-generated suggestion. Apple has been asked to clarify which specific topics the writing tools are not trained to handle, but no further details have been provided yet.
Apple appears to be exercising caution to avoid controversy by limiting the AI’s handling of certain terms and topics. The Writing Tools feature is not intended to generate new content from scratch but rather to assist in rewriting existing text. Apple’s cautious approach aligns with its history, as seen when it finally allowed autocorrect to learn swear words in iOS 17 after years of restrictions.
The release of these AI features also coincides with Apple’s alignment with OpenAI for future AI innovations and its support for the Biden administration’s AI safety initiatives. These steps underscore Apple’s commitment to responsible AI development while providing advanced tools to its users.
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