Just after the news that there was a problem with the AI function in Huawei phones and undressing, similar news about Apple surfaced (via 404 Media).
The company has reportedly removed three apps from the App Store that advertise them as "art generators," but advertises itself on Instagram and adult sites, claiming that they can "take off any girl's clothes for free."
These apps utilize artificial intelligence to create fake nude images of people wearing clothes. While the images do not depict actual nudity, the app can generate images that can be used for harassment, blackmail, and invasion of privacy.
Worryingly, Apple's response comes after 404 Media shared links to the apps and their ads.
Surprisingly, these apps have been available on the App Store since 2022, promoting the "undress" feature on adult websites.
The report also suggests that these apps were initially allowed to stay on the App Store if they removed ads from adult websites.
However, one of the apps ran ads until 2024, when Google pulled it from the Play Store.
Apple has now finally decided to remove them from the App Store. It's a bit worrying to see how reactive app store audits are and how likely developers are to exploit vulnerabilities, though.
This incident took place at a sensitive time for Apple. WWDC 2024 is just around the corner, and the company is expected to make major AI announcements on iOS 18 and Siri.
Apple has been actively building a reputation for responsible AI development, even licensing training data in an ethical way.
In contrast, Google and OpenAI are facing lawsuits over allegedly using copyrighted content to train their AI systems. Apple's delay in removing the NCI app could tarnish its carefully cultivated image.