Apple Intelligence Feature Restricted in EU and China: Implications for Millions of iPhone Users
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Apple Intelligence Will Not Be Available For iPhone Users In EU And China: Here's The Reason - News18
Apple Intelligence features will be offering new tools for iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 16 series models later this year but not in these two countries. Apple has officially unveiled the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series at their recent Glowtime event. A standout feature across the iPhone 16 and Pro models is the introduction of Apple Intelligence, available with the latest iOS 18 update. This update brings enhanced photo search capabilities, a more intuitive Siri, improved writing tools and creative innovations like Image Playground and Genmoji. However, there's a catch -- according to GSMArena, Apple's Generative AI features will not be available in the European Union (EU) or China anytime soon.Due to the NPU performance and RAM requirements, Apple will be rolling out the Apple Intelligence feature exclusively for its latest devices, including the iPhone 15 Pro, MacBooks, and iPads equipped with M1 processors or higher, starting in October. Initially, the update will only support US English, with other English variants set to be added in December. Language support will further expand next year, including Chinese, French, Japanese and Spanish.Even if users change Siri or their iPhone to a compatible language, they still won't be able to access the AI features if their Apple ID Country/Region is set to an EU country and they are physically within the EU. However, there's a catch -- those travelling outside the EU will be able to use these features, according to GSMArena.However, changing your Country/Region on your device might bring several complications and user might lose their data, especially the paid subscriptions. Furthermore, talking about the China region, the limitations are even more stricter. The Apple Intelligence won't work on any iPhones bought in mainland China nor the phones that are purchased overseas and are in mainland China. Also, it will not work if your Country/Region is set as the same.The European Union demands neutral specialists to confirm that the tech giant maintains the privacy of its customers' data. In its presentation, the company shared that AI functions that aren't designed to run on-device will instead operate on Apple servers that are powered only by Apple silicon, which will never store the user's photos or data. The company is reportedly in talks with EU officials about how to integrate Apple Intelligence and other affected features. Other important features of Apple Intelligence include a more enhanced Photos App, Notification summaries, Priority Messages in the Mail, Smart replies and others.
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Apple Intelligence will be blocked for almost two billion people - and we don't know for how long
iPhone 16 preorders have opened, and Apple fans worldwide are heading in their thousands to the company's online store to secure an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max. This year's biggest upgrade is Apple Intelligence, the forthcoming suite of advanced AI features coming to iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, two regions with a combined population of nearly two billion people are set to lose out on Apple Intelligence entirely. Apple won't be bringing Apple Intelligence to the EU, and we can now confirm that Apple Intelligence won't be available on iPhones sold in mainland China either. Apple refers to this region as China mainland, which we gather does not include the territories controlled by the Republic of China, most notably Taiwan, nor the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau. The situation for Apple Intelligence in the EU is complex to say the least. As we previously reported, Apple won't bring Apple Intelligence to the EU because of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a piece of EU legislation designed to protect competition and prevent monopolies. Apple has begrudgingly adhered to the DMA through EU-exclusive features like app sideloading, without offering the same to the rest of the world. Apple told us in June that the DMA has created "regulatory uncertanties" that make launching Apple Intelligence in the EU unfeasible: "...due to the regulatory uncertainties brought about by the Digital Markets Act (DMA), we do not believe that we will be able to roll out [...] Apple Intelligence to our EU users this year" Apple Intelligence will not be available while physically in the EU so long as your Apple ID country/region is also within the EU. Both of these conditions need to be satisfied for Apple Intelligence to be blocked. This means that visitors to the EU, who have their Apple ID country/region set outside the EU, will be able to use Apple Intelligence during their visit, though we haven't been able to test this yet. And EU-bought iPhones with EU Apple ID addresses are perfectly capable of using Apple Intelligence elsewhere, so long as the device language and Siri language are set to a supported language (currently only US English). Users can change their iPhone device language in the Settings app, by going to General > Language & Region > Add Language. Changing Siri's language can be done in the Settings app also, by going to Siri & Search > Language. Changing your Apple ID region temporarily isn't a viable workaround either, as this requires you to cancel any subscriptions and revokes access to apps purchased in the previous region's app store. As MacRumors reported in August, at least one beta version of iOS 18.1 has allowed users in the EU to test out Apple Intelligence. The situation in mainland China is stricter. Currently, iPhones purchased in mainland China are unable to use Apple Intelligence in any part of the world, and iPhones purchased elsewhere are unable to access Apple Intelligence while in mainland China. According to Reuters, the Chinese government mandates that generative-AI chatbots - which will soon describe Siri - need to be vetted before release. And as the South China Morning Post reports, the 188 large language models currently approved by the People's Republic of China all originate from within the country. There are no signs yet of when, or if, Apple Intelligence will be allowed to function in mainland China. Apple clearly anticipates that Apple Intelligence will come to both the EU and mainland China eventually. The company has confirmed that, once available, supported iPhone models in the EU and mainland China will be able to activate and use Apple Intelligence.
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Apple's new AI-powered feature, Apple Intelligence, will not be available to iPhone users in the European Union and China due to regulatory concerns. This decision affects nearly two billion potential users.
Apple's New AI Feature Faces Regulatory Hurdles
Apple's highly anticipated AI-powered feature, Apple Intelligence, is set to revolutionize the iPhone user experience. However, the tech giant has announced that this innovative functionality will not be available to users in the European Union (EU) and China, impacting nearly two billion potential users
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.Regulatory Concerns and Compliance Issues
The decision to restrict Apple Intelligence in these regions stems from regulatory concerns and compliance issues. In the EU, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) imposes strict regulations on tech companies, particularly regarding data collection and usage. Similarly, China's stringent data protection laws and government oversight have led Apple to withhold the feature in the country
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.Impact on Users and Market Share
This restriction affects a significant portion of Apple's global user base. The EU and China combined represent nearly two billion potential users who will not have access to Apple Intelligence. This decision could potentially impact Apple's market share and competitiveness in these regions, especially as AI-powered features become increasingly important to consumers
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.Uncertainty Surrounding the Restriction
Apple has not provided a clear timeline for when or if Apple Intelligence will become available in the EU and China. This lack of information has left users and industry experts speculating about the long-term implications of this restriction. It remains uncertain whether Apple will be able to adapt the feature to comply with local regulations or if alternative solutions will be developed for these markets
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.Related Stories
Apple's Commitment to Privacy and Security
Despite the setback, Apple maintains its commitment to user privacy and data security. The company's decision to withhold Apple Intelligence in certain regions demonstrates its cautious approach to navigating complex regulatory landscapes. This move aligns with Apple's long-standing reputation for prioritizing user privacy, even at the cost of feature availability
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.Potential Alternatives and Future Developments
As the situation unfolds, there is speculation about potential alternatives or modified versions of Apple Intelligence that could be introduced in the EU and China. Apple may explore ways to adapt the feature to comply with local regulations or develop region-specific AI solutions. The tech community will be closely watching Apple's next moves in these important markets
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