Künstliche Intelligenz: Apple plant Datenwarnung bei KI-Agenten auf Mac-Computern

Apple is taking steps to inform Mac users about the risks associated with independently operating AI agents before granting such software extensive access to their data. Some developers have previously abused access capabilities that could expose all data on the devices, prompting Apple to ensure users are aware of the dangers before agreeing to data access for AI.

AI agents are designed to autonomously perform tasks for users, and according to AI companies, their new agents can now perform almost any task a computer can do. To be truly useful in everyday life, they require deep access to the user's information, including emails, chats, calendars, and potentially even bank accounts. Apple's Macs have a feature called "Full Disk Access" which grants extensive data access on the hard drive, initially implemented for backup programs to create smooth copies of the computer.

However, AI software developers have also exploited this feature. As AI agents become more capable and autonomous, the risks associated with them are also expected to increase. While iPhones and iPads have much more restricted data access options compared to Macs, Apple is working to make its in-house AI assistant, Siri, more useful by leveraging AI functions that benefit from user data on the devices.

Apple emphasizes that data is processed solely on the devices or transmitted with full encryption, so Apple has no access to it. The new AI-powered Siri is initially available only in English on Mac computers in the EU. Apple argues that it has too much market power on iPhones and iPads under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) criteria to demand the same level of data access for competitors as it does for its own systems, and thus decided not to introduce these features on these devices in the European Union for now.