Apple Urged to Remove AI Feature After False Headline on Murder Suspect

A leading journalism organization has called on Apple to remove its new generative AI feature after it created a misleading headline about a high-profile murder case in the United States.

The controversy began when Apple Intelligence, which uses AI to summarize and group notifications, falsely generated a headline about murder suspect Luigi Mangione.

The AI-powered summary made it appear that BBC News had reported Mangione, accused of murdering healthcare insurance CEO Brian Thompson in New York, had shot himself—an incident that did not occur.

In response, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urged Apple to remove the feature, highlighting the risks posed by AI tools in journalism. RSF argued that the BBC incident demonstrated that generative AI services are still too unreliable to provide accurate information for the public.

Vincent Berthier, RSF’s head of technology and journalism, said, “AIs are probability machines, and facts can’t be decided by a roll of the dice.” He added that automated false information harms media credibility and poses a threat to public trust in news.

Apple has yet to comment on the incident, which occurred after the launch of Apple Intelligence in the UK. When the misleading notification surfaced, BBC News said it had contacted Apple to address the issue, but it has not confirmed whether Apple has responded.

While the notification about Mangione was inaccurate, other parts of the summary—covering topics such as the situation in Syria and South Korean politics—were correct. Mangione has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Mr. Thompson.