Apple has banned its employees from using ChatGPT and other AI platforms for fear of leaking its AI plans.

According to a cynical internal leaked document obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Apple has restricted all use of ChatGPT, Google Bard, and similar large-scale language models (LLMs) to its employees while it develops similar technology.

Apple employees have also been advised not to use Microsoft's GitHub Copilot, which developers can use to automate code creation, for fear of leaking sensitive data.

The leak comes just as OpenAI released its first official ChatGPT app for the iPhone. The app is modeled after the web version, and the GPT-3.5 version is available for free. However, those who want the best version of the technology can upgrade to ChatGPT Plus for $20 per month. With this paid version, users can chat with the AI, answer follow-up questions, and even dispute incorrect assumptions.

In a press release marking the launch of the new iOS app, OpenAI wrote: "The ChatGPT app is free to use and syncs history across devices. It also integrates Whisper, our open source speech recognition system, to enable voice input.

"ChatGPT Plus subscribers will get limited access to GPT-4 features, early access to features, and faster response times on iOS. He added that the app is only being rolled out in the U.S. at this time, but will be expanded to additional countries in the coming weeks.

Apple's concerns may have substance. ChatGPT, a Microsoft-supported platform, collects data from users to improve its AI model. However, a bug discovered in March allowed users to see the chat history of others, and ChatGPT added an option for users to turn off chat history and not contribute to AI training.

If Apple engineers use ChatGPT, there is no guarantee that their code will not be leaked or used by third-party developers.

And Apple is not alone in prohibiting its employees from using AI technology; companies such as JP Morgan Chase and Verizon have also stopped the use of generated AI by their employees.

While Apple seems slow to enter the AI race, 9to5Mac.com recently discovered that Apple is working on its own AI project, nicknamed "Bobcat," which was discovered and indicates that Apple is testing a new language feature for Siri.

The project, reportedly led by John Giannandrea (whom Apple hired from Google in 2018), aims to help Siri better understand its users and respond more naturally.

In other words, while their current plans do not appear to include AI technology comparable to something like ChatGPT, they hope to make Siri more conversational and able to perform tasks outside of the narrow criteria it is currently programmed for.

It is also important to note that under Giannandrea, Apple acquired a number of artificial intelligence startups. However, it is unclear when and how Apple plans to make its current AI developments available to the public.