Regulatory Concerns Force Apple to Delay AI Rollout in Europe

Apple Inc. is delaying the rollout of AI features in Europe this year over regulatory concerns driven by the European Union's technology-industry regulations. The delay is primarily because of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which imposed extensive restrictions on major technology companies and digital competition.

One of the key provisions of the act is the prerequisite for interoperability, which requires the development of software that could work across operating systems and hardware, facilitating easier data transfer or provider switching for customers.

Stressing the particular regulation, Apple said that the requirements "could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security."

But "we are highly motivated to make these technologies accessible to all users," the company said in its post, adding that it is committed to continuing to work with the European Commission on a solution.

However, the European Commission replied that big tech giants, which fall under the DMA, can continue their operations in Europe provided they adhere to the rules that guarantee fair competition.

One of the products that Apple intends to keep away from European consumers is its new AI system, Apple Intelligence. Following the announcement, Apple's shares remained relatively unchanged, mirroring the stability seen across other major tech firms.

On top of Apple Intelligence, other newly announced software features may also face delays in the European market, including the ability to mirror the iPhone on a Mac and a new screen-sharing feature.