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Apple AI is sending misleading push notifications about sensitive stories like Gisele Pelicot’s mass rape trial, Britain’s grooming gang scandal and a prison officer filmed having sex with an inmate.

Concerns have now been raised with Apple by multiple news organisations over the AI summary feature, which is available on iPhones with Apple Intelligence.

The feature “must be revoked”, the National Union of Journalists told Sky News, as the “inaccurate news summaries shared to audiences through Apple Intelligence demonstrate the feature is not fit for purpose”.

The feature uses artificial intelligence to summarise notifications “so you can scan them for key details”, according to Apple.

However, the AI has been incorrectly summarising news stories from newsrooms like the BBC, Sky News and the Telegraph and creating misleading and inaccurate headlines.

A mock-up of the two push notifications shows the original Jess Phillips headline and Apple AI's summary
Image:
A mock-up of the two push notifications shows the original Jess Phillips headline and Apple AI’s misleading summary

In one example created for a Sky News story, the feature incorrectly suggested safeguarding minister Jess Phillips called for a new inquiry into Britain’s grooming gangs.

This was incorrect.

The original headline was: “Jess Phillips tells Sky News there could be a new national inquiry into grooming gangs if victims ask for one”.

The wider story about grooming gangs was sensitive and controversial, with Elon Musk attacking the MP and Sir Keir Starmer for not holding a national inquiry.

A mock-up of the two headlines on a story about Gisele Pelicot
Image:
A mock-up of the two headlines on a story about Gisele Pelicot

In another example of a sensitive story being inaccurately summarised, Apple’s AI said mass rape victim Gisele “defended her convictions”.

The original headline read: “Gisele Pelicot says she went to court ‘for my children and grandchildrenafter convictions in mass rape trial”.

Gisele Pelicot was the victim of rape by more than 50 men, after her ex-husband drugged, raped and advertised her on the internet. Her rapists have been sentenced to more than 400 years in prison.

The Apple AI summary of this headline missed off the new element of the story
Image:
The Apple AI summary of this headline missed off the new element of the story

A third example was the recent news about a prison officer being jailed for 15 months after being filmed having sex with a prisoner summarised as “prison officer filmed having sex with inmate”.

The summarised headline missed the new element of the story, which was the officer had been jailed.

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Sky News has now raised concerns with Apple about the summaries, over worries that the feature could erode trust in the news and the organisation’s reputation.

An Apple AI summary said Luke Littler had won the championship before he'd even competed in the final, as this mock-up shows
Image:
An Apple AI summary said Luke Littler had won the championship before he’d even competed in the final, as this mock-up shows

The BBC also previously complained to the tech giant after the feature inaccurately told readers that darts player Luke Littler had won the PDC World Championship – before he played in the final.

“These AI summarisations by Apple do not reflect – and in some cases completely contradict – the original BBC content,” a BBC spokesperson told Sky News.

“It is critical that Apple urgently addresses these issues as the accuracy of our news is essential in maintaining trust.”

The NUJ’s general secretary Laura Davison said: “With each story inaccurately shared, Apple positions itself amid actors spreading harmful misinformation, condemned by all who recognise the importance of ethical and credible journalism.

“There have now been multiple examples of these errors and at a time of polarisation amid audiences on highly sensitive news stories dominating the media, the editorial integrity and reputation of journalists and outlets should not be weakened in this manner.

“Doing so only risks the erosion of public trust and confidence in news,” she said.

A mock up shows the comparison between a Telegraph headline and the Apple AI summary
Image:
A mock-up shows the comparison between a Telegraph headline and the Apple AI summary

In another recent example, the summary told Telegraph readers the prime minister had changed his stance on farmer inheritance tax and was now backing farmers.

Apple appeared to confuse the headline “Blow to Starmer as supermarket giant backs farmers over inheritance tax raid”.

Instead, it summarised the headline to “Starmer backs farmers over inheritance tax raid”.

The Telegraph did not respond to a request for comment.

When approached for comment, Apple sent Sky News a link to a BBC article on the topic where it said it was working to clarify that summaries were AI-generated.

However, Sky News suggested it still has concerns that the way summaries are presented by Apple AI carry strong implications they have originated from Sky News.

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Starmer urges anyone with information on Epstein case to come forward – after Andrew misses Congress deadline

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Starmer urges anyone with information on Epstein case to come forward - after Andrew misses Congress deadline

Sir Keir Starmer has urged anyone with information on the Jeffrey Epstein case to come forward after Andrew Mountbatten Windsor missed the deadline to appear in front of US Congress.

US legislators have criticised Andrew for what they describe as “silence” amid their probe into Epstein after he failed to respond to their request for an interview.

When asked about Andrew missing the deadline and whether the former prince should help the case in any way he can, Sir Keir said on his way to the G20 summit in South Africa: “I don’t comment on this particular case.”

He added that “a general principle I’ve held for a very long time is that anybody who has got relevant information in relation to these kind of cases should give that evidence to those that need it”.

Andrew is not legally obliged to talk to Congress and has always vigorously denied any wrongdoing.

More on Andrew Mountbatten Windsor

Sir Keir Starmer spoke to reporters on his way to the G20 in South Africa. Pic: Reuters
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Sir Keir Starmer spoke to reporters on his way to the G20 in South Africa. Pic: Reuters

It comes as Marjorie Taylor Greene, a loyal supporter-turned-critic of US President Donald Trump, said on Friday she is resigning from Congress in January.

Ms Greene’s resignation followed a public falling-out with Mr Trump in recent months, as the congresswoman criticised him for his stance on files related to Epstein, as well as on foreign policy and healthcare.

Members of the House Oversight Committee had requested a “transcribed interview” with Andrew in connection with his “long-standing friendship” with Epstein, the paedophile financier who took his own life in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

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Releasing the Epstein files: How we got here

But after saying they had not heard back, Democrats Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam accused Andrew of hiding.

Their statement read: “Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s silence in the face of the Oversight Democrat’s demand for testimony speaks volumes.

“The documents we’ve reviewed, along with public records and Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s testimony, raise serious questions he must answer, yet he continues to hide.

“Our work will move forward with or without him, and we will hold anyone who was involved in these crimes accountable, no matter their wealth, status, or political party. We will get justice for the survivors.”

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The new Epstein files: The key takeaways

It follows Andrew being stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles earlier this month.

He had previously agreed to stop using his titles, but had expected to remain a prince and retain his dukedom, ahead of the publication of the memoirs of the late Ms Giuffre, who had accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager – an accusation he denies.

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Girl, 13, arrested on suspicion of murdering woman in Swindon

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Girl, 13, arrested on suspicion of murdering woman in Swindon

A 13-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman in Swindon.

Police said the teenager was detained following an incident in Baydon Close, Moredon, in the Wiltshire town on Friday evening.

Officers responded to reports of disorder inside a house. When they arrived, a woman in her 50s living at the address was found to be not breathing. She was declared dead at the scene.

There were no other reported injuries.

Forensic officers are at the scene to collect evidence
Image:
Forensic officers are at the scene to collect evidence

Detective Inspector Darren Ambrose, from Wiltshire Police’s major crime investigation team, said: “This is a serious incident in which a woman has sadly died.

“We have set up a cordon at the address while an investigation is carried out.

“I can confirm that we have arrested a teenage girl in connection with this incident and we are not looking for anyone else.”

Police have asked people not to speculate about the incident online as this could prejudice the case.

A police statement read: “Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while we continue carrying out our enquiries into the woman’s death.

“The suspect remains in custody at this time.”

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Police said anyone with concerns should speak with their local neighbourhood policing team, either by emailing or approaching officers in person.

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Rail fares to be frozen for first time in 30 years

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Rail fares to be frozen for first time in 30 years

Rail fares are to be frozen for the first time in 30 years, the government has announced.

Ministers promised that millions of rail travellers will save hundreds of pounds on regulated fares, including season tickets and peak and off-peak returns between major cities.

The fare freeze applies to England and services run by English train operators.

People commuting to work three days a week using flexi-season tickets will save £315 a year travelling from Milton Keynes to London, £173 travelling from Woking to London and £57 from Bradford to Leeds, the government said.

The changes are part of Labour’s plans to rebuild a publicly owned Great British Railways. Other planned changes include tap in-tap out and digital ticketing, as well as investing in superfast Wi-Fi.

The freeze applies to regulated fares, including season tickets and peak and off-peak returns. Pic: iStock
Image:
The freeze applies to regulated fares, including season tickets and peak and off-peak returns. Pic: iStock

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government was introducing a freeze on rail fares for the first time in 30 years, which “will ease the pressure on household finances and make travelling to work, school or to visit friends and family that bit easier”.

“We all want to see cheaper rail travel, so we’re freezing fares to help millions of passengers save money,” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.

“Commuters on more expensive routes will save more than £300 per year, meaning they keep more of their hard-earned cash.”

Rail unions and passenger groups welcomed the move, praising how it will make travel more affordable for passengers and promote more sustainable travel alternatives.

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Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: “More affordable fares will encourage greater use of public transport, supporting jobs, giving a shot in the arm to local economies and helping to improve the environment.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the rail fare freeze “will be a huge relief to working people”.

“This is the right decision, at the right time, to help passengers be able to afford to make that journey they need to take, and to help grow our railway in this country, because the railway is Britain’s green alternative – taking cars and lorries off our congested roads and moving people and goods safely around our country in an environmentally-friendly way,” Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef, said.

The Tories welcomed the move but said the government was “late to the platform”.

Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said: “In government, the Conservatives kept fares on the right track with below-inflation rises and consistently called for no further hikes to protect hard-working commuters.”

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