Apple has temporarily disabled notification summaries for news and entertainment apps in the iOS 18.3 developer beta, according to reports from MacRumors and 9to5Mac. The AI-powered feature faced criticism for inaccurately summarizing content from outlets like the BBC.
According to 9to5Mac, Apple plans to reenable the feature in a future software update while continuing to improve its accuracy. The latest beta now explicitly labels the notification summary feature as a beta that “may contain errors.”
The update also introduces the option to disable notification summaries for specific apps directly from the lock screen or Notification Center. Users can do this by swiping, tapping “Options,” and selecting “Turn Off Summaries.” Additionally, Apple has implemented italicized text on the lock screen to help users distinguish between notification summaries and standard notifications.
The AI is designed to process and interpret data on-device or in the cloud, providing smarter and more personalized user experiences while maintaining a strong focus on privacy and security. In the case of notification summaries, Apple Intelligence summarizes content from apps or articles, but recent criticism has highlighted the need for improved accuracy in this feature.
The change follows criticism last month when the BBC reported that Apple’s notification summary feature misrepresented its coverage of the UnitedHealth shooter, incorrectly implying that Luigi Mangione shot himself. Apple responded by announcing an update to clarify when displayed text is generated by Apple Intelligence.
