Apple turns on new 'dangerous' iPhone feature - how to turn it off

iPhone users are being alerted to a "dangerous" feature that's been automatically enabled on some Apple devices after the latest software update. The introduction of iOS 18.3 means that artificial intelligence (AI) features on iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro/Max models are now active by default, a change from when users had to enable them manually.

The AI system, known as Apple Intelligence, not only pulls information from apps and takes action within them but also demands a significant amount of storage space. Tech experts have highlighted that the AI will occupy about 7GB of space, regardless of the device it's running on.

Some tech specialists have labelled the AI system "dangerous," especially pointing to its Notification Summaries function. This feature uses AI to consolidate multiple notifications from the same app into a single, concise summary "to make them more succinct and easier to read," as per Apple's description.

However, there have been instances where Notification Summaries has misinterpreted notifications, leading to misleading or entirely incorrect news headlines. Petros Iosifidis, a professor in media policy at City University in London, told BBC News that while there could be potential benefits to such a feature, "the technology is not there yet and there is a real danger of spreading disinformation".

For those who have installed iOS 18.3 but wish to disable the AI system, it will require a manual adjustment of the default settings. To do this, go to the Settings app, scroll down, and select Apple Intelligence and Siri, reports the Mirror.

To disable the feature, first switch off Apple Intelligence and then confirm "Turn Off Apple Intelligence" when prompted. Launched in December, Apple Intelligence is an AI system incorporated into the latest iPhone models, boasting a range of new AI-driven features designed to simplify daily tasks, as per Apple's description.

However, Apple has temporarily turned off the feature for news and entertainment notifications to address a problem, although Notification Summaries can still compile other types of alerts, such as messages, which have also experienced issues. Data privacy expert Chip Hallett, author of 'The Ultimate Privacy Playbook', has cautioned that Apple Intelligence could tap into confidential data within your apps.

"Apple Intelligence is going to be learning how you use your banking apps, your financial apps, and your location maps," stated Mr Hallett. The Mirror has reached out to Apple for a statement.