Apple restricts use of AI apps to people over 17

Apple is currently at a crossroads regarding the BlueMail messaging app, which recently integrated ChatGPT functions. Something that goes against the company’s policies regarding the use of applications with AI, and for which they have decided to limit the latest update of the application to people over the age of 17.

Blix Inc., which is the developer of the application, used the OpenAI GPT-3 language model in its latest version of BlueMail.

. This allows the app to have artificial intelligence chatbot functions.

The concern of the Apple App Store review team is that AI-powered language tools may generate inappropriate content for children. Because of this, they’re asking the app to raise its age limit to 17 or older, or at least include content filtering.

The current age limit for BlueMail is 4 years old and what worries its developer is that the new restriction makes users who encounter it reluctant to use it. Well, generally, the 17-year restrictions in the app store are aimed at apps with offensive, sexual, or drug-related content.

Other apps have the same restriction

AI apps

BlueMail wasn’t the only app with update issues. Microsoft, which also recently implemented ChatGPT functionality in its Bing search engine, ran into the same hurdle while trying to update their mobile apps with AI.

Although Apple is not competing in the race for artificial intelligence, the App Store is full of apps posing as ChatGPT alternatives

. A specific case is that of the ChatGPT Chat GPT IA application which uses GPT-3, and which even demanded payment before OpenIA opened its Premium subscription section.

The app managed to stay active for 3 weeks until it caught some media attention as a fake app that jacked up the price. It was so popular that it racked up a 4.6 out of 5 rating and over 13,000 reviews..

The question for many is, How do I get this app past Apple’s review process? There’s no answer yet, but chances are many of the App Store review team are now paying the price for this bug.