Tech • IA • Crypto
Apple AI
7/10TL;DR
Apple has delayed launching its new AI-powered Siri in the European Union, citing regulatory concerns under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), while EU officials dispute that claim.
KEY POINTS
Siri AI rollout limited outside EU
Apple unveiled a major overhaul of Siri at its annual developer event, introducing advanced capabilities such as reading messages, performing actions across apps, and completing purchases autonomously. The rollout is scheduled for autumn in the United States, but no timeline has been provided for the European Union, leaving roughly 450 million consumers without access for now.
Apple blames EU regulation
Apple argues that compliance with the DMA would require it to grant rival assistants equivalent access to sensitive user data, including messages, photos, and files. The company warns that such interoperability could expose users to security risks, citing research showing that AI systems can be exploited to extract passwords or private data without consent.
European Commission rejects claims
EU officials have pushed back, stating that nothing in the DMA prevents Apple from launching its upgraded assistant. The regulation requires that users be able to choose alternative assistants with similar system access, but does not mandate reduced security standards. According to the Commission, the delay is a business decision by Apple rather than a legal necessity.
Dispute over competition and control
At the heart of the conflict is control over the smartphone’s primary interface. Regulators view AI assistants as a critical gateway to digital services, and argue that allowing a single default assistant to dominate would undermine competition. The DMA is designed to prevent such concentration of power.
Questions over Apple’s privacy narrative
Apple has positioned itself as a defender of user privacy, yet the new Siri reportedly relies in part on a customized version of Google’s Gemini AI model. This detail has raised questions about Apple’s messaging, given its longstanding criticism of competitors’ data practices.
CONCLUSION
The standoff highlights a broader clash between platform control and regulatory oversight, as both Apple and the EU frame their positions as protecting users while competing to shape the future of AI-driven digital access.