The Asurion article outlines how to manage various Apple "intelligence" features, which personalize and improve user experience but also collect data. It explains how to disable Siri suggestions, location tracking for specific apps or entirely, personalized ads, sharing analytics with Apple, and features like Significant Locations and personalized recommendations in apps like Music and TV. The article emphasizes that disabling these features may impact the functionality of certain apps and services, and offers steps for both iPhone and Mac devices.
The Asurion article, "How to Turn Off Apple Intelligence," provides a comprehensive guide for users of Apple devices who wish to limit the amount of data Apple collects for the purposes of improving its products and services. The article focuses on several key areas where data collection occurs and details the steps necessary to disable or restrict this collection. It begins by explaining that "Apple Intelligence" is a broad term encompassing various data gathering processes, not a single, monolithic feature that can be toggled on or off. Therefore, managing data sharing requires adjusting several individual settings across different areas of the operating system.
The article carefully outlines how to manage "Personalized Recommendations," which leverage user data to suggest apps, music, and other content. It explains how to disable these recommendations within the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV, and for News notifications. The article provides specific instructions for each, including navigating to the relevant menus and toggling the appropriate switches. For instance, within the App Store, users can disable personalized recommendations by tapping on their profile icon, then selecting "Personalized Recommendations" and toggling the switch to the off position.
Furthermore, the article addresses "Location Services," a feature that allows Apple and third-party apps to access location data. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the various levels of location access, including "Never," "While Using the App," "Always," and "Ask Next Time." The article thoroughly explains how to adjust these settings for individual apps, allowing users to granularly control which apps have access to their location and under what circumstances. The authors also highlight the "System Services" section within Location Services, which allows users to manage location-based system features such as location-based alerts, significant locations, and sharing location with family members.
The article then delves into "Siri & Dictation," explaining how voice data is used to improve Siri's performance. It guides users through the process of disabling Siri and Dictation entirely, or alternatively, opting out of sharing audio recordings with Apple for review and improvement purposes. The steps involve navigating to the "Siri & Search" section within the device's settings and adjusting the relevant toggles.
"Usage & Diagnostics," another significant data collection area, is also covered in the article. This feature shares diagnostic and usage data with Apple to help identify and resolve issues. The article explains how to disable the automatic sharing of this data by navigating to the "Privacy & Security" settings, then to "Analytics & Improvements," and disabling "Share [Device] Analytics."
Finally, the article briefly touches upon "iCloud Analytics," which analyzes iCloud data to improve services like Siri and Photos. The article explains how to disable this feature for specific services, such as Photos, by navigating to the respective app's settings within iCloud.
In conclusion, the article serves as a detailed manual for users who want to take control of their data privacy on Apple devices. It meticulously outlines the various data collection points, provides step-by-step instructions for disabling or limiting data sharing, and emphasizes the importance of understanding the implications of each setting.
Summary of Comments ( 265 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43431675
HN commenters are skeptical of Apple's ability to significantly improve Siri given their past performance and perceived lack of ambition in the AI space. Several point out that Apple's privacy-focused approach, while laudable, might be hindering their AI development compared to competitors who leverage more extensive data collection. Some suggest the reorganization is merely a PR move, while others express hope that new leadership could bring fresh perspective and revitalize Siri. The lack of a clear strategic vision from Apple regarding AI is a recurring concern, with some speculating that they're falling behind in the rapidly evolving generative AI landscape. A few commenters also mention the challenge of attracting and retaining top AI talent in the face of competition from companies like Google and OpenAI.
The Hacker News post titled "Apple shuffles AI executive ranks in bid to turn around Siri," linking to a Yahoo Finance article, has generated a moderate number of comments, most of which express skepticism about Apple's ability to significantly improve Siri. Several commenters focus on the perceived cultural issues at Apple that they believe hinder innovation, particularly in the AI field.
One recurring theme is the perceived lack of risk-taking and the emphasis on secrecy at Apple, which some commenters argue stifles creativity and collaboration. They suggest this environment makes it difficult to attract and retain top talent in a competitive field like AI. One commenter specifically mentions the difficulty of doing cutting-edge research under such constraints, implying that researchers are likely to be more drawn to companies with a more open approach.
Another common sentiment is that Siri has fallen significantly behind competitors like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and that a simple reshuffling of executives is unlikely to address the underlying technical and strategic shortcomings. Some commenters point to the limitations of Siri's capabilities compared to its rivals, highlighting its struggles with more complex queries and its perceived lack of contextual understanding.
A few commenters also discuss the challenges of integrating AI technology into Apple's existing product ecosystem, with some suggesting that the company's focus on hardware and tight integration may be hindering its progress in software-based services like Siri. One comment speculates that Apple's hardware-centric approach may limit the data available for training AI models, putting them at a disadvantage compared to companies with vast data sets gathered from a wider range of sources.
While some commenters offer more neutral observations, simply stating the news or speculating on potential outcomes, the overall sentiment appears to be pessimistic about Apple's prospects in the AI assistant race. The comments section largely reflects a belief that more fundamental changes are needed beyond simply reorganizing leadership.