Apple training AI on user data now requires consent. Starting with iOS 27, which will be released on Monday, September 14, users will encounter a prompt where they can choose to agree or decline.
What iOS 27 Brings
According to AppleInsider, Apple has changed its stance on using customer data to train artificial intelligence models. Previously, the company assured that it did not need the data and could manage without it. Now, however, it admits that it needs real user queries for Siri AI to function properly.
With iOS 27, users will see a prompt with agree and not now buttons. If they agree, they can revoke it later in the Settings > Analysis & Improvements settings.
Apple Training AI on User Data: A Policy Shift
In its documentation, Apple admits that the collected data may be viewed by personnel referred to as review personnel. It is not clear whether these are Apple employees or an external company.
Previously, Apple used the Differential Privacy method, which was intended to prevent access to individual data. Now, however, it appears that this method is not enough for Siri AI.
Siri Recap, a feature for summarizing conversations, uses Private Cloud Compute. Apple has not yet specified whether data from conversations with Apple Watch will be included in the AI training.
According to AppleInsider, the change is significant because Apple has long strived to present Apple Intelligence as a safer alternative to ChatGPT or Meta AI.
It is not yet clear whether Apple will keep the choice available to users in the future. AppleInsider speculates that Apple Intelligence could eventually become a mandatory part of the system.