Elon Musk warns Windows users to turn off controversial new AI feature comparing it to ‘a Black Mirror episode’
ELON Musk has warned Windows users to turn off a controversial new AI feature that’s like “a Black Mirror episode”.
The Tesla chief was quick to put forward his views on Microsoft’s latest update to Windows 11 devices this summer over fears it could share similarities with a near-future dystopia.
Known as Recall, the new artificial intelligence feature will take screenshots of everything on-screen to allow users to scroll back in time and resume work on anything from within the last month.
Exclusive to a range of new Copilot+ PCs, AI is capable of analysing text and pictures in the screenshots to help you find what you’re looking for.
Whether it’s phrases, people, animals or landmarks, users will be able to search for anything without having to know the exact name of a document or webpage, GB News report.
Recall isn’t enabled by default, however, with users set to be asked whether they want to take advantage of the AI, it’s added.
Yusuf Mehdi, Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft, said in a company blog that having Recall is like “having photographic memory”.
The US company also wrote that users “are always in control with privacy you can trust.”
Following the news of Microsoft’s latest update, however, Musk was quick to air his concerns on social media.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) in response to a video of Microsoft’s Managing Director, Satya Nadella, speaking of Recall’s benefits, he said he is “definitely turning this ‘feature’ off”.
He also compared it to an episode of Black Mirror – a show set in near-future dystopias with sci-fi technology.
Users on his social media platform were quick to respond to the post.
“So, a built-in screen recorder. Because that’s not a security risk,” slammed one.
“Did the CIA come up with this?” said another.
“Uhhhh sounds like surveillance repackaged as a feature,” commented a third.
A fourth person described it as “a huge invasion of privacy”.
Musk isn’t the only one to take up concerns with the new Windows update.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has confirmed to the BBC that it was “making inquiries with Microsoft to understand the safeguards in place to protect user privacy”.
The data protection regulator added that private companies must “rigorously assess and mitigate risks to peoples’ rights and freedoms” before bringing new products to market, the report adds.
Microsoft has been quick to reassure PC owners over Recalls capabilities, however, claiming it will never take screenshots while you’re in private browsing mode.
Artificial Intelligence explained
Here's what you need to know
- Artificial intelligence, also known as AI, is a type of computer software
- Typically, a computer will do what you tell it to do
- But artificial intelligence simulates the human mind, and can make its own deductions, inferences or decisions
- A simple computer might let you set an alarm to wake you up
- But an AI system might scan your emails, work out that you’ve got a meeting tomorrow, and then set an alarm and plan a journey for you
- AI tech is often “trained” – which means it observes something (potentially even a human) then learns about a task over time
- For instance, an AI system can be fed thousands of photos of human faces, then generate photos of human faces all on its own
- Some experts have raised concerns that humans will eventually lose control of super-intelligent AI
- But the tech world is still divided over whether or not AI tech will eventually kill us all in a Terminator-style apocalypse
Separate exceptions can also be added to specific applications where the feature won’t apply.
Microsoft also said that Recall will not censor or wipe information from the screenshots that it takes, even when passwords or bank account details are visible on-screen.
Dr Kris Shrishak, an adviser on AI and privacy, however, believes the AI feature could have a “chilling effect” on people.
He told the BBC. “This could be a privacy nightmare.
“The mere fact that screenshots will be taken during use of the device could have a chilling effect on people.”
Jake Moore, global cybersecurity adviser at software security firm ESET, said the implications of the AI feature could be an enticing prospect for cyber criminals, GB News report.
“Enabling a feature which has the ability to capture screen data not only offers even more data to the company behind the software but also opens up another avenue for criminals to attack,” he said.