Apple's ChatGPT integration raises data privacy and competition questions
The new Apple and OpenAI partnership aiming to integrate ChatGPT into Apple’s operating systems, virtual assistant, and writing tools poses important questions about competition and privacy.
Similar partnerships are already under the microscope and could face formal antitrust investigations. Apple’s integration of ChatGPT could add to regulatory scrutiny about competition, including the risk of collusion among competitors sharing partnerships with the same Artificial Intelligence (AI) firm.
Regulatory Scrutiny
There are also worries about the impact on third-party app access and user privacy and processing shifts from on-device to cloud-based models, prompting scrutiny under the EU’s Digital Markets Act and data protection laws.
Euractiv contacted various competition authorities and Apple and OpenAI for comments but received no additional statements beyond those already available.
Integration Details
ChatGPT will be integrated into Apple’s operating systems for iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers later this year. Users will be able to use ChatGPT for free without creating an account, according to Craig Federighi, senior vice president of software engineering at Apple.
Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, will be able to access ChatGPT, user messages, and emails to provide more accurate and contextual responses. Generative AI features integrated with Apple writing tools like Notes and Pages will help users create written and visual content.
Antitrust and Competition Concerns
Apple's ChatGPT integration into its operating service iOS later this year could trigger an update of the EU’s digital antitrust regulation by the European Commission. Regulators could scrutinize potential anticompetitive behavior through the lens of antitrust laws or the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
OpenAI is already under scrutiny for its partnership with Microsoft, and similar partnerships may face competition concerns. Policymakers worry that big tech firms will dominate AI through acquisitions and partnerships with AI startups.
Privacy and Data Protection
Apple reassures users that the integration will not compromise their privacy. OpenAI does not store user requests, and users' IP addresses are obscured. However, concerns about privacy techniques and GDPR compliance remain.
Consent and opt-ins are complex under European data protection law (GDPR), and OpenAI's compliance with GDPR has been a topic of discussion among regulators.
It is crucial to address the privacy concerns related to ChatGPT and ensure that data privacy and competition remain at the forefront of such integrations.
