Apple Delays Launch of Apple Intelligence in the EU

Apple will not release its AI product, Apple Intelligence, in the European Union in 2024 due to “regulatory uncertainty,” reports CNBC. 

In addition to Apple Intelligence, EU users will not have access to iPhone Mirroring and SharePlay. The company believes that “the compatibility requirements of the DMA could compromise product integrity, posing a threat to user data privacy and security.” 

iPhone Mirroring allows users to view and control their smartphone screen on a Mac. SharePlay enables users to share their iPad or iPhone screen with another device, synchronizing media, movies, and series viewing during conversations with friends, family, and colleagues. 

The EU adopted the DMA in 2023 due to concerns about monopolies by Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and ByteDance. Regulators believe tech giants prevent smaller firms from competing. Among other things, the DMA requires basic gadget functions to operate on competing ecosystems and devices. 

Additionally, large firms are prohibited from:

• favoring their own products over competitors’;
• combining personal data from different services;
• using information from third-party sellers to compete against them.

Companies on the list must allow users to download apps from competing platforms. 

Apple stated it will work with European authorities “to find a solution that allows providing features to EU customers without compromising their security.” 

In June, Apple announced the integration of ChatGPT into its devices and a major AI initiative, Apple Intelligence. The new decision means the software will not be available to users in the 27 EU countries but will be accessible in other jurisdictions and only on certain devices in American English.

Earlier, Apple held talks with Meta about potential AI partnerships. The company is also in discussions with other major developers: Google, Anthropic, and Perplexity.