Elon Musk Threatens to Ban Apple Devices from Tesla and SpaceX Over Privacy Concerns

On August 16, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, made a strong statement against Apple, announcing his intention to ban Apple devices from his companies. The declaration came after Apple revealed a collaboration with OpenAI, prompting Musk to express concerns about the protection of users' information.

Musk's Concerns About Apple and OpenAI Partnership

Musk took to his social media platform X to voice his worries about the potential security risks associated with the integration of Apple's devices with OpenAI. He described the partnership as "an unacceptable security violation," criticizing Apple for not fully understanding the implications. Apple's move into artificial intelligence, including the incorporation of OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot into Siri, raised further red flags for Musk.

Apple, in response to Musk's comments, clarified that their AI integration with OpenAI is an optional feature and that the company has its own AI technology. They emphasized that they prioritize the protection of users' security and privacy, seeking permission before sharing any data with ChatGPT.

Musk's Ultimatum

Musk explicitly stated that Apple devices would be banned from his companies if the integration of OpenAI at the OS level were to proceed. Furthermore, he directly addressed Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, threatening to implement a ban on Apple devices within his companies' premises unless the alleged "creepy spyware" was discontinued. Musk even proposed the screening of visitors' Apple devices at the entrance as a security measure.

Tesla's Workforce and Musk's Ventures

As of December 31, Tesla, Musk's largest company, employed 140,473 individuals globally. However, the company has undergone significant layoffs this year, surpassing 10% of its workforce. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI but later distanced himself from the organization, has founded xAI, a potential competitor to OpenAI. With a recent $6 billion funding round, xAI is gearing up to introduce its first product, Grok, positioned as an alternative to ChatGPT. In addition to his roles at Tesla and xAI, Musk heads other ventures, including SpaceX, Neuralink, and the Boring Company.