Experts issue warning over Apple's new app that's automatically downloaded to your device

Experts and social media users have shared warnings about a new app that's automatically downloaded to iPhones as part of the latest update.

Apple released its new update, iOS 17.2, earlier this week as it sought to fix a number of security vulnerabilities found in its previous rollout.

Issues including a Bluetooth-related vulnerability and problems with WebKit, which underpins Safari, were among the areas that were patched in the update, but now experts have turned their attention to a new potential issue.

As part of the rollout of iOS 17.2, Apple announced the release of a new app named Journal, an 'all-new way to reflect on life's moments and preserve your memories', which is automatically downloaded as part of the update.

Unlike the Notes app, Journal proves personalized suggestions to users to inspire their entries, encouraging them to capture 'everyday moments and special events' through journaling, which has been 'shown to improve wellbeing'.

To come up with these personalized suggestions, Journal uses 'on-device machine learning' - and it's this that's caused concern among some experts.

Apple

After hearing about the update, self-described social media expert Kristen Ruby took to X to share her fears, pointing out that people should be paying more attention to the machine-learning element of the app.

"I can’t believe no one thinks this Apple Journal is a big deal," she wrote. "Forget ChatGPT. This is on-device machine learning. From your LIFE. Hello wake up."

Ruby went on to share how the machine-generated prompts may completely change the way people journal, saying: "AI will prompt you with what to write based on reviewing your digital history on your device.

"The sacred bond between pen and paper and your brain no longer exists when there is another entity involved. This forever changes the concept of self-reflection when AI is prompting you on what to reflect on."

Also raising their concerns, another X user claimed: "Apple's new Journal app [...] is automatically downloaded to your device and shares information with strangers nearby."

Apple has addressed the privacy features in a post on its website, explaining how Journal handles data and protects your privacy.

Apple

The site explains that Journaling Suggestions uses Bluetooth to detect nearby devices and contacts, 'without storing which of these specific contacts were around'.

"This information is used to improve and prioritize your suggestions. It is stored on device, and is not shared with Apple,” the page says.

If you are concerned about your privacy on the app, you can control whether other iPhone users can find your device by going to Journaling Suggestions, and turning off Discoverable by Others.

By turning off the feature, you will also disable 'Prefer Suggestions', meaning Journaling Suggestions won't detect how many devices or contacts are around you.

Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, also commented on privacy as he said: “We are excited to bring the benefits of journaling to more people.

"Journal makes it easy to preserve rich and powerful memories, and practice gratitude by intelligently curating information that is personal to the user, right from their iPhone.

"And we’re making it possible for other journaling apps to offer the same personalized suggestions while maintaining the highest level of privacy.”