Elon Musk Threatens to Ban Apple Devices from Tesla, SpaceX, and X Workplaces

On Monday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk issued a serious warning that he may prohibit employees from bringing Apple devices into their workplaces. This comes in the wake of Apple CEO Tim Cook's announcement of a partnership to integrate OpenAI's artificial intelligence technology into its operating systems.

Musk's Concerns

Musk expressed his concerns on his social media platform X, stating that the integration of OpenAI's technology into Apple's systems is an "unacceptable security violation." He further added that visitors to his businesses, which include SpaceX, will be required to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage.

Legal Battle and Musk's Response

This threat from Musk, affecting over 100,000 workers at Tesla, SpaceX, and X, comes amidst an ongoing legal battle between the Tesla CEO and OpenAI. Musk had previously filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging that the company had prioritized profits over benefiting humanity.

Apple's Assurance and Musk's Skepticism

Apple's announcement of the partnership emphasized that users' personal data would remain private, even as the company integrates AI into its operating systems. However, Musk expressed skepticism regarding the protection of users' personal data, questioning Apple's capability to ensure OpenAI's protection of security and privacy.

Musk's involvement with OpenAI and xAI

It is worth noting that Elon Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but stepped down from its board in 2018. Simultaneously, he is working on building a rival AI company, xAI, with a mission to "maximally benefit all of humanity." This company has attracted researchers from OpenAI and other leading tech firms.

As of now, Apple has not responded to Musk's comments regarding the potential ban on its devices at his workplaces.