Apple blocks Siri AI launch in EU, blames Digital Markets Act for indefinite delay

Apple wants Europe to blink

It took a few years, but Apple finally made its AI look useful. Now millions of iPhone users in Europe are being told they won't be getting Siri AI anytime soon, if ever -- and Apple wants them to blame the EU. Apple says its new AI-powered Siri will not launch on iPhones and iPads in the European Union because of the Digital Markets Act, the bloc's competition law designed to stop powerful tech companies from acting as gatekeepers over their platforms to shut out rivals. In practice, the DMA requires platforms to give competitors the same kinds of data access as they themselves enjoy, with a few exceptions for things like ensuring their system is not compromised. This interoperability requirement means giving groups like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic -- as well as any other potential Siri rivals -- similar access to Apple systems. For an assistant designed to look across apps, personal information, photos, messages, and videos and take actions on users' behalf, that's a lot of access. For Apple, that's far too much access to hand over to outside companies. Doing so would risk the privacy and security of its customers, Apple said, so much so that it would rather withhold Siri AI from Europe than build it on Brussels' terms and let others in. Apple said it has proposed solutions, such as its Trusted System Agent, which would act as an intermediary between rival AI agents and Apple's systems, giving comparable levels of access and capability. Apple said it would need 18 months to implement it on a "gradually rolling" basis. Apple said the European Commission rejected this and its other proposals and, as things stand, said "there is currently no timeline for Siri AI's availability in the EU on iOS and iPadOS." For its part, the European Commission says nothing about its rules is stopping Apple from introducing new features. "Nothing in the DMA prohibits Apple from introducing new products and services in the EU," European Commission spokesperson Ricardo Cardoso told The Verge. Cardoso said the Commission has been in "regular contact with Apple" on the matter, but added that "Apple did not develop proposals for DMA compliant interoperability solutions." That leaves the two sides at an impasse. Apple insists that complying with the EU's rules would risk its customers' privacy to such an extent that it would rather not release the AI assistant it has been building toward for years. The Commission, meanwhile, argues that Apple is using its power to stymie competitors and limit consumer choice. "It is not for them to decide who gets to innovate, or to choose which AI tools EU citizens get to use," Cardoso said. Apple is clearly hoping the court of public opinion will rule in its favor. The company took the unusual step of dedicating part of its WWDC 2026 keynote to explaining why Siri AI won't be coming to Europe, then published an icily titled blog post on the matter: "Due to DMA, Siri AI delayed in EU for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27." It has also been holding media briefings specifically about the European issue. China will also miss out on Siri AI, again due to regulatory challenges. That was relayed through a one-sentence footnote. It is a familiar tactic for Apple. The company has a history of invoking privacy and security concerns when regulators try to make it open up parts of its famously closed ecosystem. It has already blamed the DMA's interoperability requirements for withholding AirPods live translation and iPhone mirroring in the EU, as well as Maps features. Those concerns are often real and legitimate, but they are also among Apple's most effective arguments for preserving control over its vast technological empire. Friso Bostoen, a professor of competition law and digital regulation at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, said there are very real security and privacy risks in forcing platforms to open up their systems. But Apple's privacy and security-focused arguments do not always hold up to scrutiny, Bostoen said, pointing to recent court cases in the UK and US where judges were skeptical of the company's claims. Jan Penfrat, a senior policy adviser for European Digital Rights (EDRi), a network of NGOs, experts, and advocates campaigning for digital rights across Europe, sees Apple's latest moves as a means of putting pressure on the EU Commission to allow it to break the DMA. "It's very much a lobbying tactic," he said. "The problem is not the DMA but Apple refusing to open up its competition-busting software ecosystem." For Michael Veale, a professor of technology law and policy at University College London, the core issue is that Apple is making an exception to its own long-standing privacy and security setup "in order to stay relevant and in the game" when it comes to AI. "Apple's privacy and security model is built like a Jenga tower, based on extreme vertical control by the firm, and risks collapsing when interoperability is introduced." In other words: Apple's comfortable altering its own practices for Siri AI, giving the AI the ability to access lots of data across different apps, but argues the same kind of access is too dangerous when competitors ask for it. Veale and Penfrat both said there's no way to properly assess Apple's proposed solution because the company has not made it public. Other experts, such as Bostoen, questioned why Apple needs as long as 18 months to implement it, given the interoperability requirements were predictable and should have been addressed in parallel with the development of Siri AI. Ultimately, Apple is playing a big game of chicken with Europe. The EU is a huge market, and Apple has every incentive to find a way to bring Siri AI there eventually, particularly as it becomes a larger part of the iPhone experience. Apple managed to put USB-C chargers in its products when Europe forced the issue. Will Europe force the AI issue with Apple now, or will Brussels be the one to blink first? Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

EU: Apple Refused to Follow Rules Meant to Keep Siri AI in Check

Why isn't Siri AI coming to Europe? A European Commission spokesperson is pushing back on claims that local regulators refused to help Apple bring the AI assistant to the region. "I think we indeed need to set the record straight. So first, the decision not to roll out Siri AI in the EU is Apple's and Apple's only," Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier said today. Regnier added that Apple essentially asked for a waiver to the EU's Digital Markets Act, which tries to prevent large tech companies, known as "gatekeepers," from abusing their market power to block new players. To ensure a level playing field, the "interoperability" rule would have required Apple to let third-party companies access the "same OS hardware and software features" that the new Siri in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 would also use. "Apple was simply unable to develop interoperability solutions that meet essential EU privacy and security standards," Regnier said. "Instead of trying to find a suitable compliance solution, Apple simply made a request to the European Commission to be exempted from their interoperability obligations under the DMA" for at least 18 months. "Guess what? That's not an option," he added. "Because it would mean no other AI agent other than Siri AI -- by the way, powered by Google -- would have an equal chance to be chosen by iPhone users. EU law is non-negotiable. The Commission won't give any exemptions." At WWDC on Monday, Apple blamed EU regulations for blocking the arrival of the new Siri in Europe. "Our hope is to eventually bring Siri AI to the EU, and we will continue to engage with EU regulators on a path forward. However, their refusal to engage constructively on solutions that preserve privacy and security means we do not currently have a timeline for Siri AI's availability on iOS and iPadOS in the EU," Apple SVP Craig Federighi said in a statement. The controversy revolves around how Apple developed Siri AI with extensive access to its devices, including the iPhone and iPad, while implementing privacy safeguards to prevent excessive data collection. Thus, under the EU's DMA, Apple would need to extend that same access to third-party companies to create a level playing field. However, Apple argues the EU is taking an "extreme interpretation of the DMA," flagging the interoperability requirement as a privacy risk since third-party AI providers could implement their services differently. "According to EU regulators, the DMA requires Apple to give any AI system nearly unlimited access to a user's device, as well as the ability to act on that access autonomously without a user's ongoing visibility and control. That includes the ability to read and send messages, make purchases, access files, and execute actions across any app," Apple says. "Security researchers have already shown that AI systems can be hijacked to steal personal data -- like passwords and photos -- and to permanently alter files and account settings without a user's consent. As AI systems gain more capabilities, these risks are quickly increasing in frequency and scope." In the WWDC keynote, Federighi also accused some tech companies of "racing forward, seemingly pursuing AI for the sake of AI, without clear regard for the people." Still, the controversy echoes Apple's long-standing defense of its closed app store ecosystem, highlighting the security benefits for users; for example, a centralized app store could better block malware. However, critics, including the European Commission, called the approach anticompetitive, eventually forcing Apple to open up the ecosystem to third-party players. "What Apple...is not allowed to do, just like any other gatekeeper, is to close the market," Regnier said today. To comply with the EU's DMA, Apple said it proposed a "solution called Trusted System Agent -- an intermediary that would allow virtual assistants to safely access the same features and capabilities as Siri AI for devices in the EU." But the company wanted to gradually roll out the solution over an "18-month period," an exemption the Commission ultimately denied. The good news for European users is that the new Siri will still arrive on macOS 27 and visionOS 27. But there's "currently no timeline for Siri AI's availability in the EU on iOS and iPadOS," Apple says. However, Siri AI and the other new Apple Intelligence features "will not be available in China while Apple works through regulatory requirements," Apple says.

Apple blames the DMA again for "delayed" Siri AI in the EU.

Siri AI is private by design and deeply integrated across Apple's platforms using on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute, which extends the privacy and security of iPhone into the cloud. However, under EU regulators' extreme interpretation of the DMA, Apple would have to give any virtual assistant direct access to users' private data -- and the ability to directly control other installed applications -- as soon as Siri AI is made available in the EU, without the essential protections necessary to keep users and their data safe.

Siri AI for iPhones and iPads will be delayed indefinitely in the EU - Engadget

Apple also said that Siri AI and new Apple Intelligence features will not be available at all in China. European Union and Chinese citizens will have to wait even longer before getting their hands on Apple's hotly-anticipated iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 with the new Siri. Thanks to some regulatory issues, Apple said it won't ship Siri AI as part of its upcoming iPhone and iPad software updates to the EU due to the conflicts with the Digital Markets Act. "Our hope is to eventually bring Siri AI to the EU, and we will continue to engage with EU regulators on a path forward," Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, said in a press release. "However, their refusal to engage constructively on solutions that preserve privacy and security means we do not currently have a timeline for Siri AI's availability on iOS and iPadOS in the EU." The dispute also means developers in the EU won't be able to test or use the Siri AI features for their apps on the iOS or iPadOS betas. On top of that, Apple said that Siri AI features and its new Apple Intelligence features won't be available in China either, since it has to work "through regulatory requirements." According to Apple, the EU's Digital Markets Act requires it to give any AI system "nearly unlimited access to a user's device," along with "the ability to act on that access autonomously without a user's ongoing visibility and control." Citing user privacy concerns, Apple said it came up with the "Trusted System Agent," or an intermediary that would let virtual assistants use the same features and capabilities as Siri AI for EU devices, along with a rollout plan over the next 18 months. However, Apple said the European Commission didn't agree to any of its proposals. Apple said it would continue trying to deliver the overhauled Siri AI to EU users on iPhone and iPad, but that there was "no timeline for Siri AI's availability in the EU." However, EU users can still experience the revamped Siri through macOS 27, visionOS 27 and watchOS 27.

Why Apple's A.I. Upgrade for Siri Won't Be Available in Europe

A regulatory dispute has indefinitely delayed the release of Siri AI. This week, Apple announced an improved version of its digital assistant, Siri, incorporating artificial intelligence features to help users answer questions, complete tasks and find information from across their device and apps. Apple said Siri would be available later this year, but the roughly 450 million people in the 27-nation bloc of countries that make up the European Union will have to wait. A regulatory dispute between Apple and the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, is delaying the release of the new A.I. features. The root of the issue is a competition law, called the Digital Markets Act, or DMA, that requires large tech companies like Apple to make their products interoperable. That means outside developers would be allowed to offer competing A.I. digital assistants to download instead of Siri. European regulators said the rules were necessary to improve competition. Apple said compliance would create privacy and security vulnerabilities. To offer an effective A.I. assistant, the software needs wide access to a person's device to crawl through files, apps, photos and other data. Giving such access to an outside app developer creates the risk of stolen personal data, including passwords and photos, or to have files and account settings altered without permission, Apple said. "According to E.U. regulators, the DMA requires Apple to give any A.I. system nearly unlimited access to a user's device, as well as the ability to act on that access autonomously without a user's ongoing visibility and control," the company said. Europe is Apple's second-largest market after the United States, accounting for $111 billion in sales in 2025. China, where the service will also not be immediately available, is Apple's third largest market. Apple said that during several months of negotiations, it offered different alternatives, including a system that would allow third-party assistants but limit access to certain data on a person's device. The company, which developed the new Siri tool with Google, said the ideas were rejected by the commission. Apple said it had no timeline for making the product available on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch devices in the European Union. However, the service will be available on Mac computers. On Tuesday, Thomas Regnier, a spokesman for the European Commission, said in a statement that Apple was a "gatekeeper" and "not allowed to close the market." The DMA, he said, is intended to encourage competition and give customers more choice. "Instead of trying to find suitable compliance solutions, Apple simply asked the commission to be exempted from its interoperability obligations," he said. "That's not an option." This is not the first time product releases from U.S. companies have been delayed in Europe because of regulatory disputes. Apple held back the release of other artificial intelligence features in 2024. The social media giant Meta delayed the release of A.I. services, its smart glasses and the Threads social media site, before eventually making them available in Europe.

For the second time, Apple Intelligence is delayed in Europe, and this time there is no timeline

Apple says EU regulators rejected all its proposals to ship Siri AI on iPhone and iPad under the DMA. Mac, Watch, and Vision Pro users get it. Apple announced on Monday that Siri AI, the rebuilt assistant it unveiled hours earlier at WWDC 2026, will not be available on iPhone or iPad in the European Union when iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 ship later this year. The company said EU regulators rejected every proposal Apple put forward over several months to bring the feature to Europe while supporting other virtual assistants. There is no timeline for when EU users will get Siri AI on the platforms where they use Apple devices most. "We're deeply disappointed that our EU users won't have Siri AI on iPhone or iPad when we share our new software releases later this year," Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, said in a statement. He added that the European Commission's "refusal to engage constructively on solutions that preserve privacy and security" had left the company without a path forward. The restriction applies only to iOS and iPadOS. EU users will be able to access Siri AI on macOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27, a distinction that reflects the DMA's designation of iOS as a gatekeeper platform subject to interoperability obligations. Developers located in the EU will also be unable to test or use the new Siri AI features for their apps on iPhone and iPad. Apple's core argument is that the European Commission's interpretation of the DMA would require the company to give any third-party virtual assistant the same deep system access that Siri AI receives, including the ability to read and send messages, make purchases, access files, and execute actions across installed apps. Apple said this would have to happen without what it calls "essential protections" for user visibility and control. The company cited security research showing that AI systems can be hijacked to steal personal data, alter files, and change account settings without a user's consent. To address those concerns, Apple designed a system called Trusted System Agent, an intermediary that would let competing virtual assistants safely access the same features and capabilities as Siri AI on EU devices. Apple also proposed launching Siri AI in Europe while rolling out the Trusted System Agent gradually over 18 months. The European Commission rejected both proposals, and according to Apple, did not agree to any alternative. This is the second time Apple Intelligence features have been delayed in the EU because of the DMA. Apple first withheld its AI suite from European iPhones when it launched in the US in October 2024, citing regulatory uncertainty. That initial round of features eventually arrived in Europe with iOS 18.4 in April 2025, but only after months of negotiations. The pattern has now repeated with a more advanced set of capabilities and, this time, no resolution in sight. The dispute sits within a broader record of friction between Apple and the Commission over DMA compliance. The Free Software Foundation Europe reported in March that none of 56 formal interoperability requests submitted to Apple under the DMA had resulted in the company developing a new solution. Of the 16 publicly disclosed closures, 10 were denied on technical grounds, two were dismissed as already solved, and three were rejected as out of scope. Apple has separately faced enforcement action under the DMA for restricting how developers communicate with users about alternative payment options. The EU delay compounds Apple's existing regulatory difficulties in its other major restricted market. In March, Apple Intelligence briefly went live in China without approval, an accidental deployment that exposed the company to potential penalties under Beijing's AI governance framework. Siri AI will also be unavailable in China when iOS 27 launches, as Apple continues to work through that country's separate regulatory requirements. Apple's framing of the delay places responsibility squarely on the Commission, using language that escalates beyond its previous DMA statements. The company described the regulators' position as an "extreme interpretation" of the law and accused them of demanding that AI systems be given "nearly unlimited access" to user devices. That characterisation will be contested. The DMA's interoperability provisions are designed to prevent gatekeepers from using integration advantages to shut out competitors, a principle the Commission has applied consistently across its enforcement actions. The practical consequence for the roughly 450 million people who live in the EU is that the most significant upgrade to Siri in 15 years, announced the same day that Apple's partnership with OpenAI is fracturing, will not arrive on the devices they carry in their pockets. They can use it on a Mac, an Apple Watch, or a Vision Pro headset, but not on an iPhone. For a feature built around personal context, conversational history, and always-available assistance, the platform gap is not a minor limitation. It is, for most users, the difference between having the feature and not having it.

Opinion | Why Europe won't have the new Siri

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks on Monday during an Apple event in Cupertino, California. In the name of fairness and competition, Europe has written laws that leave its citizens as the only people in the free world without access to the most advanced technology. Case in point: Apple's newly announced artificial intelligence assistant, Siri AI, will launch on iPhones and iPads this fall in London and Toronto, but not in Paris or Berlin. Heavy-handed European tech regulation has produced no European Google, no European Apple and no competitive European AI rival -- only the world's most sophisticated machinery for slowing down innovation. Brussels insists the decision is "Apple's and Apple's only" and that nothing in its flagship Digital Markets Act forbids the launch. That's technically true and wholly beside the point. The law requires that the moment Siri AI ships in Europe, any rival AI agent must get the same sweeping access to a user's messages, files and chat history. Apple proposed putting in a software security layer to make that safe and offered a phased rollout to build it. According to Apple, the European Commission rejected the proposal. The DMA was supposed to open markets. But its legal logic was born in the era of browsers, app stores and messaging apps. These components can be swapped like batteries. An AI assistant is nothing of the kind. It's woven through the operating system, touching the most sensitive data a person owns. And, as security researchers keep demonstrating, it can be hijacked. Technology moves fast, and the DMA is already out of step with the times. That's a warning for Americans agitating for more regulation. Europe's General Data Protection Regulation, the DMA's spiritual predecessor, was sold on the premise that it would empower users and punish tech firms. Its record has been grim. Venture investment in European start-ups fell by roughly a quarter relative to America in the year after the law took effect in 2018. Small firms have been smothered with compliance costs while the well-heeled American tech giants, with their armies of lawyers, consolidated their dominance. Even the privacy-compliance software industry that formed because of the law is dominated by American firms. Behind all this lies the dream that Europe could be a "regulatory superpower." It wanted to create a market too big to skip that would, by virtue of its heft, end up exporting its rules to the rest of the world. That hasn't worked out. When adapting a product for Europe costs more than European market access is worth, companies no longer comply. They simply leave out the feature. Former European Central Bank head Mario Draghi's celebrated report to the European Commission clearly identified that Europe's regulatory burden is now a tax on its competitiveness. Bureaucrats in Brussels read it. Journalists praised it. But nothing changed. It's not too late to learn from their mistakes. Europe is wealthy, educated and more than capable of competing at the technological frontier. Some of its politicians are slowly coming around. If only the regulators could get out of the way.

Greg Joswiak on Siri AI delay in the EU: 'Most serious negative outcome yet' of the DMA

Apple yesterday announced that Siri AI will not be available at launch in the European Union due to the Digital Markets Act. In a new conversation with 9to5Mac today, Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, went in-depth on the situation. Joswiak explained that Apple submitted its proposal for a Trusted System Agent intermediary in the EU more than six months ago. According to Apple, the EU hasn't responded to that proposal. Instead, the European Commission expects Apple to build out the system, then regulators will determine whether it complies with the DMA. Here are Joz's remarks in full: As you guys know, and I'll reiterate the basic features [Siri AI] would allow Siri to understand your personal context, to tap into broad world knowledge, on-screen awareness, and bring it together in a way that only Apple can. It includes, of course, a new dedicated app so you can revisit your conversations, expanded Visual Intelligence experience, new Writing Tools, Siri Mode in Camera on the iPhone, and like everything we do, it's built to be private by design. Around the world, Siri AI is going to be integrated across our products, and we're excited that we're able to share it with so many users. But unfortunately, while we can bring it to Mac and Vision Pro in Europe, we cannot bring it to iPad and iPhone at launch. And that's especially painful because those are the most personal devices that we make. I want to be very direct about this. We're very frustrated, we're very heartbroken that European users won't have this ability and this powerful and useful new capability at the same time as users around the world. We see this as the most stark example yet of the European Commission's extreme interpretation of the DMA that is again costing our users. So you may ask yourself, why is this the case? Well, is part of the EU's extreme interpretation of the DMA. They have a desire to make interoperability for third-party assistants and to give them the same level of access to them as we do for Siri, at the moment that we launch, without any ability to put in place protections that our users expect. We've explained to them the risk of giving this sort of access to an entire operating system and all the user's data. The European Commission has ignored our concerns. How we've architected the system, we don't have access to that information. Your system does, but we don't. That's part of our privacy by design. I also want to be incredibly clear: this is not some sort of effort for us to be punitive over our feelings for the DMA. We have worked actually very hard to try to avoid this outcome. We tried to engage with the Commission beginning late last year. This isn't us going to them just a couple weeks ahead of time and saying, "Let's work something out." We began going to them late last year with our teams, with our engineers, and we wanted to avoid the solution, avoid this problem so that we could ship Siri AI to our users at the same time as the rest of the world. We proposed very serious, specific solutions designed to preserve privacy and security in Europe. We call this the Trusted System Agent. It's an OS-level intermediary that would allow third-party virtual assistants to safely provide the same features and capabilities as Siri AI, but with protections that our users deserve. The Commission, however, did not accept any of our proposals. In fact, under their interpretation of the DMA, they made it clear it would be illegal for us to ship Siri AI to iPhone and iPad users in the EU without providing third-party virtual assistants the very same access as Siri AI at the very same time that we ship. This, of course, creates real risks for our users that would be irresponsible for us to accept. And I cannot imagine anything more concerning for privacy and security than opening up an entire operating system to a third-party assistant with unfettered access to virtually everything on a user's device. And without appropriate safeguards, any AI system could potentially read your messages, edit your files, delete your photos, or take actions with apps without your consent or knowledge. That risk applies to every user, including children, and under the Commission's view, we could not put in place the kind of guardrails that we believe would be necessary to protect them either. And they're likely to be the most vulnerable to exploits that could happen to them and their data without them even realizing. As you know, this is an especially important area for us and we just introduced an entirely new set of child safety features. These are not risks that are theoretical or imaginary. Our security experts have been clear that these threats are real. The Commission's own joint research center has acknowledged the need for guardrails around AI systems to protect users and security agencies around the world recommend safeguards like the ones we propose. And let me also be super clear, Apple strongly supports interoperability. We provide literally hundreds of thousands of APIs to developers. We have developers here this week from 65 countries. We, even more importantly, post all the information available, not just with our new stuff, but with all of developer information to millions of developers online. But we believe that interoperability work has to be done responsibly. We simply will not turn our users' devices over to third-party virtual assistants or anyone else without proper protections in place. But in essence the Commission is asking us to conduct a very risky experiment on many, many, many tens of millions of users. And we only want to ship these capabilities when we can do so safely. And you guys know, we've dealt with DMA-related delays before, several of them. For instance, last year with Live Translation. Now we're proud that last year we had our engineers work really hard and work incredibly fast and we brought that feature to EU users about six weeks after we shipped it in other places. But Siri AI is much bigger in scope, much more complex, much more deeply integrated into the system. And because the Commission has not accepted our proposals or meaningfully engaged with us on our proposals, we do not currently have a solution that we can engineer towards. So we don't have a target, and without a target, we can't give our users a timeline. So again, we're left asking who is this for? Siri AI will serve as a foundation, as you heard from Craig yesterday and Mike, that will build additional capabilities down the road. So we fear, if it cannot come to Europe, that the scale of what we cannot bring to Europe will only grow. This is why we see this as the most serious negative outcome yet for the DMA. Now, in the United States, we've seen legislative proposals that are modeled after the DMA, like the American Innovation Choice Online Act, or AICOA. We'll see if it comes up again this year. It may or may not go anywhere. But if it does, it's important to avoid the failed model that we've seen in Europe, which would lead to the same exact delays, privacy, security risks, and new threats to child safety here in the United States. We believe that our users everywhere deserve access to Apple's best in what we have to offer, but with the privacy and security protections that our users expect from us. We will keep fighting to bring Siri AI to our European users and we'll keep fighting for protections for all of our users. It's unfortunate, however, it requires a fight.

EU Says Decision Not to Launch Siri AI in Europe Is Apple's Alone

The European Commission has responded to Apple's announcement that Siri AI will not launch in the EU, saying the decision is entirely Apple's and that the company sought an exemption from its legal obligations rather than a compliant solution. Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters in Brussels (via Reuters) that Apple had failed to develop interoperability solutions meeting EU privacy and security standards, and instead asked to be let off the hook entirely. The decision not to roll out Siri AI in the EU is Apple's and Apple's only. Apple was simply unable to develop interoperability solutions that meet essential EU privacy and security standards. Instead of trying to find a suitable compliance solution, Apple simply made a request to the European Commission to be exempted from their interoperability obligations. That's not an option. The statement appears to contradict Apple's characterization of events somewhat. Apple announced yesterday that Siri AI would not be available in the EU on iOS or iPadOS, blaming regulators for refusing to engage constructively on proposed solutions. Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, said the company was "deeply disappointed" and cited what it described as regulators' refusal to accept any of Apple's proposals, including a system called Trusted System Agent that would have allowed third-party virtual assistants to safely access the same device capabilities as Siri AI. The Commission's account tells a different story. Rather than negotiating over Apple's proposed solutions, regulators say Apple simply requested a blanket exemption from its interoperability obligations under the Digital Markets Act, something the Commission says is not an available option. Apple's statement framed the DMA's requirements as demanding that any AI system be given "nearly unlimited access" to a user's device. When iOS 27 and Apple's other major new software updates are released later this year, users in the EU will not have access to Siri AI or any of its new features, including the app for revisiting and starting new conversations. Apple said it hopes to eventually bring Siri AI to the EU and will continue to engage with regulators, but offered no timeline.

Apple's new Siri AI will be late in the EU and China

Apple's new Siri AI will, once again, be a little late, especially in some regions. The company originally announced that a new, smarter Siri would return in 2024. It took two years for those vague promises to take the form of Siri AI, which the company announced during the WWDC 2026 keynote. Alas, Siri still won't be equally distributed at launch. According to Apple's SVP of engineering, Craig Federighi, Siri AI in beta is now available to developers, and it's coming to end users "this fall." But not for users in the European Union and China. In both cases, Siri AI will be available at an undefined time in the future, as Apple works through regulatory hurdles. This isn't a huge surprise, given that Apple Intelligence was initially unavailable in these regions, but it's still a disappointment to millions of Apple users. Apple explained the issues in a blog post published on Monday. "Unfortunately, due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple will not be able to ship Siri AI in the European Union with the release of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. Over the past several months, EU regulators did not accept any of Apple's proposed solutions to bring Siri AI to the EU while safely supporting other virtual assistants," the company wrote. The issue, it seems, is not so much with Siri itself, but with other virtual assistants, which don't get the same playing ground as Siri. "Under EU regulators' extreme interpretation of the DMA, Apple would have to give any virtual assistant direct access to users' private data -- and the ability to directly control other installed applications," wrote Apple. Apple says it did figure out a solution. Called the Trusted System Agent, it's an "intermediary that would allow virtual assistants to safely access the same features and capabilities as Siri AI for devices in the EU." The plan was to gradually release Siri in the EU over an (ouch) 18-month period. But once again, according to Apple, "the European Commission did not agree to any of Apple's proposals." The bad news is that, according to Apple, "there is currently no timeline for Siri AI's availability in the EU on iOS and iPadOS." Not great, but we're hoping for a solution, and we bet Apple is, too. For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

The new Siri won't be available on iPhones in the EU, due to Digital Markets Act

The brand new iOS 27 Siri AI experiences will not be coming to users in the European Union at the same time as everyone else. In a company press release that directly blames the Digital Markets Act, Apple says iPhone and iPad users in the EU will have to wait longer for Siri AI. However, Siri AI will be launching on Mac, Apple Vision Pro and Apple Watch in the EU, as those platforms are not subject to the same gatekeeper requirements ... Impacted features include the new Siri, updated writing tools, Siri mode in the Camera app, and more. As of right now, Apple does not have a timeline as to when it will be able to launch these features in the EU. Siri AI necessitates deep access to user data and system functionality. The EU will not let Apple launch these features until it is possible for third-party AI providers to also offer similar functionality. While Apple can ensure that Siri handles user data in a privacy-preserving way, it cannot guarantee the same for other companies looking to integrate. Apple says it has been negotiating with EU regulators over the last several months to try and find a solution, but to no avail. The company says it even developed a new layer called 'Trusted System Agent' to coordinate access to such sensitive data, but the EU rejected the proposals. As such, it is currently at an impasse. Here's what Apple SVP Craig Federighi said on the matter: "We're deeply disappointed that our EU users won't have Siri AI on iPhone or iPad when we share our new software releases later this year," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "Our hope is to eventually bring Siri AI to the EU, and we will continue to engage with EU regulators on a path forward. However, their refusal to engage constructively on solutions that preserve privacy and security means we do not currently have a timeline for Siri AI's availability on iOS and iPadOS in the EU." Hopefully, the dispute can be resolved over the coming months and EU customers will get access to the same cool new Siri features that the rest of the world will enjoy.

Why Apple's decision to withhold Siri AI from Europe is symptomatic of a wider consequence of EU regulatory zeal

The good news for those of us who switched off Siri a long time ago - Apple has rebuilt it from scratch and it sounds rather impressive, able to reads your screen, pull helpful data from apps, be more conversational, and handle more complex queries with greater accuracy. The bad news for anyone in Europe - you're not getting it! Or at least, you're not getting it on iPads and iPhones or the Apple Watch - Mac users and anyone who's bought a Vision Pro will! - after Apple decided that it's taking a stand against European Union regulatory requirements for releasing it in the bloc (or in the UK - not being part of the EU in this instance isn't apparently one of those 'Brexit benefits', the Vote Leavers keep telling us we've won!) In addition, developers located in the EU will not be able to test or use the new Siri AI features for their apps on iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and watchOS 27. To be fair, Europeans aren't alone here - China isn't getting it either! So why is the EU on a par with a state-run, totalitarian regime - see what I did there, Brexit-eers? - in being treated this way by a US tech firm? Damned by the DMA! It's all down to Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA) which aims to stop Big Tech from locking out rivals from their markets and generally behaving in what the Eurocrats regard as anti-competitive behavior. This isn't the first time that Apple has not let the EU play with its toys. Back in 2024, the original Apple Intelligence launch was held back due to the DMA. To be honest, that was probably no great loss to anyone, but two years is a lifetime in the AI hype cycle and this time around it sounds as though Europe is missing out. The new version of Siri AI was announced earlier this week at Apple's developer conference in Cupertino, California, pitched as a "much more capable assistant" that can help users find what they need and get things done across various Apple devices, including a new dedicated app to revisit conversations, an expanded Visual Intelligence experience, integrated tools for writing, and Siri mode in Camera on iOS. So what's the beef? Apple claims that the terms of the DMA would force it to give rival AI assistants deep access to its system and pose a major security risk: Siri AI is private by design and deeply integrated across Apple's platforms using on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute, which extends the privacy and security of iPhone into the cloud. However, under EU regulators' extreme interpretation of the DMA, Apple would have to give any virtual assistant direct access to users' private data -- and the ability to directly control other installed applications -- as soon as Siri AI is made available in the EU, without the essential protections necessary to keep users and their data safe. That's not good enough for the Eurocrats, it goes on: According to EU regulators, the DMA requires Apple to give any AI system nearly unlimited access to a user's device, as well as the ability to act on that access autonomously without a user's ongoing visibility and control. That includes the ability to read and send messages, make purchases, access files, and execute actions across any app. Security researchers have already shown that AI systems can be hijacked to steal personal data -- like passwords and photos -- and to permanently alter files and account settings without a user's consent. As AI systems gain more capabilities, these risks are quickly increasing in frequency and scope. Apple says it had proposed a solution called Trusted System Agent -- an intermediary that would allow virtual assistants to safely access the same features and capabilities as Siri AI for devices in the EU, and offered to launch Siri AI in the EU while gradually rolling out this new solution over an 18-month period. But the European Commission said no. In fact, the European Commission did not agree to any of Apple's proposals, according to the firm. Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of Software Engineering, says he hopes that the firm can "eventually" release Siri AI in the EU, but passes the buck firmly in the direction of EU regulators to find a path forward: Their refusal to engage constructively on solutions that preserve privacy and security means we do not currently have a timeline for Siri AI's availability on iOS and iPadOS in the EU. Non!!! And there's not likely to be one any time soon if the words of Thomas Regnier, European Commission Spokesperson For Tech Sovereignty, Defence, Space And Research, are anything to go by: What Apple is not allowed to do, just like any other gatekeeper, is to close the market. It is not for them to decide who gets to innovate in Europe, and it's not for them to choose which AI tools our EU citizens get to use or not. And that's precisely where the DMA and its inter-operability obligation comes in, because if we want to innovate and to have innovative solutions and more choices for our users, we need fair and open competition among developers. He confirms that Apple had proposed its Trusted System Agent idea, - "we had a few contacts with Apple on this matter" - but adds: Apple was simply unable to develop interoperability solutions that meet essential EU privacy and security standards. Instead of trying to find a suitable compliant solution, Apple simply made a request to the European Commission to be exempted from their interoperability obligations under the DMA, and this for at least 18 months on top of it. Guess what - that's not an option, because it would mean that no AI agent, other than Siri AI, by the way, powered by Google, would have an equal chance to be chosen by iPhone users. And he pushes the blame for Siri AI's non-appearance in the EU firmly back to Cupertino: The decision not to roll out Siri AI in the EU is apples, and apples only, because absolutely nothing in the DMA prohibits Apple from introducing new products in the EU. My take EU law is non-negotiable. The Commission won't give any exemptions, just like a police officer would not exempt a driver from respecting speed limit. Well, to continue the driving analogy, this was a car crash waiting to happen, wasn't it boys and girls? The specifics of this case will presumably come to some form of conclusion over time - or not - but the bigger picture here is how damaging the EU propensity for over-zealous regulation is going to be longer term to access to US tech. Yes, US firms clearly benefit from access to a massive trading bloc and want to be touting their wares in Europe. But in the current climate, when the AI arms race is being defined in terms of US vs China, there are eyes on bigger prizes and a MAGA climate that isn't remotely interested in pandering to noises off emanating from Brussels. This doesn't mean that the EU's efforts to regulate the tech 'Wild West' are a bad thing in principle. But the shrill execution of this has grated over the years - with both Republican and Democrat administrations - and it seems only to be getting louder and more relentless as time goes on. And that's not going to change when Trump 2.0 gives way to whatever comes next in a few years time. Joe Biden and Barrack Obama were both as critical of European demands on the US tech sector as Donald Trump, just somewhat more courteous in their wording. And caught cringing in the crossfire, as is its post-Brexit wont, is the UK, desperate not to upset the US, but gagging to chum up closer to the Europeans...Ironically, the UK has its own Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC) and isn't actually following the DMA to the letter, but Brits still aren't getting the new Siri AI. What a bloody mess. And it won't be the last.

Apple's Siri AI won't be available in the EU at launch

Enforcement of Europe's Digital Markets Act means Apple can't launch the system safely within the EU, the company said. Apple's new AI interface 'Siri AI' will not be available to EU users of its phones, tablets and smart watches when the company launches its new operating systems for the devices later this year. The company said that due to restrictions set out and enforceable by Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA), it could not safely integrate Siri AI into iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and watchOS 27 running on European iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches. Apple said that solutions for a compliant integration of Siri AI for European users - which could also support other, rival virtual assistants in a safe manner - that it proposed to the EU over "the past several months" had not been accepted. "We're deeply disappointed that our EU users won't have Siri AI on iPhone or iPad when we share our new software releases later this year," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice-president of software engineering. "Our hope is to eventually bring Siri AI to the EU, and we will continue to engage with EU regulators on a path forward. However, their refusal to engage constructively on solutions that preserve privacy and security means we do not currently have a timeline for Siri AI's availability on iOS and iPadOS in the EU." The disagreement centres on what Apple said is Europe's "extreme interpretation of the DMA" that would require the company to give any rival virtual assistant "direct access to users' private data - and the ability to directly control other installed applications - as soon as Siri AI is made available in the EU, without the essential protections necessary to keep users and their data safe". Apple demonstrated the newly redesigned AI interface at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference yesterday (8 June), but said "clear dangers to EU users" and "regulators' failure to acknowledge these risks" would lock out its availability in the bloc. The company said, however, that EU users of its computers and mixed reality headsets will be able to access Siri AI on macOS 27 and visionOS 27, respectively. Forrester vice-president and principal analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee described the new, updated AI integration as "a far more capable, context-aware, conversational assistant", but said its success would "hinge on delivering the new Siri experience quickly, and ensuring it works as promised for iPhone users at scale". Apple has previously advocated that the EU get rid of the DMA, claiming that the antitrust legislation is "forcing" the company to make "concerning changes" to how it delivers its services to European users. Passed in 2022, the DMA aims to crack down on anticompetitive behaviour from Big Tech companies and level the online digital market space. Last summer, Apple changed its App Store policies for EU users in an effort to comply with the DMA. In April, the company announced plans for a leadership transition from Tim Cook to John Ternus, shortly before reporting its "best March quarter ever" with revenue of $111.2bn. Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

Apple scraps Siri AI launch in the EU over intense regulatory clashes

Apple has officially announced that the next-generation Siri AI experience, powered by the newly introduced Apple Intelligence infrastructure showcased at WWDC26, will not be rolled out to iPhone and iPad users in the European Union as originally planned. Citing strict regulatory hurdles under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), the tech giant confirmed that Siri AI will remain completely unavailable on the upcoming iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 updates across all member states. EU regulators reject all privacy and integration proposals According to the company's statements, Apple spent the last few months drafting various proposals and solutions to bring Siri AI to the European market in compliance with local laws. However, European Union regulators have reportedly rejected every single solution Apple presented, even those specifically designed to protect user privacy while simultaneously supporting third-party virtual assistants. Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, emphasized that while the company still ultimately hopes to bring this technology to the region and will continue its ongoing negotiations with regulators, there is currently no official timeline or roadmap for an EU release. What exactly are European users missing out on Once iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are officially released, iPhone and iPad users in the European Union will find themselves locked out of the most heavily anticipated Siri AI capabilities. * Dedicated history app: A brand-new specialized application designed to easily view and manage past conversations with the assistant * Visual Intelligence: The heavily expanded visual recognition, search, and analysis experience * Integrated writing tools: Deeply embedded, system-wide text generation, proofreading, and editing tools * Camera integration: The highly anticipated Siri mode built directly into the native iOS Camera app There might be a loophole for Mac and wearable users Interestingly, this massive regulatory restriction only targets Apple's primary mobile platforms. The company clarified that European users will not be completely cut off from the AI revolution; they will still be able to access and utilize Siri AI features on their Mac computers, Apple Vision headsets, and Apple Watches through the upcoming macOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27 updates.

Apple and the EU Are Blaming Each Other for the Siri AI Delay in Europe

If you're an iPhone user in Europe, you already know the headline: Siri AI isn't coming to iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 in the EU. No timeline, just Apple's vague hope to "eventually" bring it to the region. For now, Siri AI Europe is a no-show, and both sides are pointing fingers. Apple came out swinging at WWDC. In a statement, Craig Federighi said the company spent months proposing solutions that would let Siri AI launch in the EU while keeping user data protected. One of those proposals involved a system called Trusted System Agent, designed to let third-party virtual assistants access Siri AI's capabilities without direct exposure to sensitive device data. Apple says regulators refused to engage constructively on any of it. The company's position is that the DMA, as EU regulators interpret it, would force Apple to give any third-party AI assistant near-unlimited access to a user's device, including the ability to act on that access autonomously. Apple argues that's a privacy and security risk it isn't willing to take. The EU's Version of Events The European Commission didn't take long to respond. Spokesperson Thomas Regnier said the decision to withhold Siri AI Europe was Apple's and Apple's only, and that nothing in the DMA actually prohibits Apple from launching new products in the region. The more pointed detail is that Apple reportedly asked for an 18-month exemption rather than developing a compliant solution. It's worth remembering that Apple has been here before. The company spent years resisting USB-C before the EU forced the switch. It pushed back on third-party app stores in Europe and eventually had to open up iOS anyway. It called for the DMA to be repealed outright. Each time, the EU held its ground. If you've been following along, you know the Siri AI demo at WWDC was genuinely impressive, which makes the EU situation sting a little more for anyone in the region. Worth noting too that not every iPhone is even compatible with Siri AI to begin with. For EU iPhone owners on a supported device, the wait for Siri AI in Europe is a double one.

Apple and Brussels Blame Each Other for Delaying European Union Rollout of Siri AI

Apple and the European Union are blaming each other for delaying a rollout of the iPhone maker's long awaited Siri AI app to European users. A spokesman for the 27-nation EU's executive arm on Tuesday disputed Apple's explanation for why the company can't include European users when the app launches later this year. "We indeed need to set the record straight," European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier said. "The decision not to roll out Siri AI in the EU is Apple's and Apple's only because absolutely nothing in the DMA prohibits Apple from introducing new products in the EU." Regnier was referring to the Digital Markets Act, a tough EU rule book that aims to stop Big Tech "gatekeepers" from locking out rivals. Apple had blamed the DMA after unveiling its upgraded artificial intelligence assistant a day earlier at its annual developers conference. It said in a statement Monday that it wouldn't be available for iPhone and iPad users in the EU, and did not provide any timetable. The DMA requires the biggest tech platforms to give access to rivals on equal terms. But Apple complained that under Brussels' "extreme interpretation" of the rule book, the company would have to give any virtual assistant "direct access" to user data without "essential protections." Apple said it designed a solution and a plan to roll it out gradually over 18 months, but the commission rejected its proposals. Regnier had a different version. "Instead of trying to find a suitable, compliant solution," Apple merely asked the commission for a 18-month exemption, he told reporters at a regular briefing in Brussels. "Guess what? That's not an option, because it would mean that no AI agent other than Siri AI, by the way, powered by Google, would have an equal chance to be chosen by iPhone users." EU law is "non-negotiable," Regnier said. "The commission won't give any exemptions, just like a police officer would not exempt a driver from respecting the speed limit." __ AP writer Sam McNeil contributed to this report

No Tech Rule Exemption for Apple, EU Says Amid Spat Over Siri AI Delay

Apple has blamed EU regulations for the delayed launch in the EU EU regulators slammed Apple on Tuesday for blaming EU tech rules for its decision not to roll out its upgraded assistant Siri AI in the European Union for now, saying they had rejected the company's request for an 18-month exemption from its obligations. The iPhone maker on Tuesday said Siri AI would not be available initially in the EU on iPhones or iPads and faulted the European Commission for refusing to engage constructively with them to ensure privacy and security on their devices. It told regulators of its plans to introduce an intermediary over an 18-month period to allow virtual assistants to access Siri AI safely but the request was turned down. Apple executives, at a briefing with reporters at Apple's Cupertino, California, headquarters, said that virtual AI assistants would have unprecedented access to a wide swath of personal data on a user's device, including virtually all of their communications. Apple said it detailed its plans for Siri AI to EU regulators six months ago, along with a technical proposal to allow secure third-party access to that data. "In essence, a commission that's asking us to conduct a very risky experiment on many, many, many tens of millions of users," Greg Joswiak, Apple's marketing chief, told reporters, "and we only want to ship these capabilities when we can do so safely." The commission repudiated Apple's criticism. "The decision not to roll out Siri AI in the EU is Apple's and Apple's only," spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters in Brussels, saying there was nothing in the Digital Markets Act to stop the company from introducing new products in the EU. "Apple was simply unable to develop interoperability solutions that meet essential EU privacy and security standards," Regnier said. "Instead of trying to find a suitable compliance solution, Apple simply made a request to the European Commission to be exempted from their interoperability obligations under the DMA - and this for at least 18 months. That's not an option," Regnier said. Europe accounted for nearly 27% of Apple's total sales in its last fiscal year. The company does not break out sales for the EU. Apple said that the DMA had forced it to postpone the rollout of several features in the EU, including iPhone mirroring to Mac and live translation with AirPods as well as location-based features in Maps. The DMA aims to rein in the power of Big Tech, give rivals more leeway to compete and consumers more choice. DMA breaches can cost companies fines as much as 10% of their global annual turnover.

EU rejects Apple blame for delayed Siri AI rollout

The European Union has rejected Apple's claims regarding the delayed launch of its AI-powered Siri. EU officials state that Apple alone is responsible for ensuring its products meet regulatory requirements. Apple had cited the EU's Digital Markets Act as a reason for not releasing Siri AI in Europe. The EU insists that the law does not prevent new product introductions. The EU on Tuesday rejected Apple's blame for the delayed rollout of its AI-enhanced voice assistant, saying it was up to the US giant to make products that follow the rules. Apple unveiled the AI overhaul for the iPhone on Monday, with a strengthened Siri -- dubbed Siri AI -- with the ability to imitate natural communication, track information across apps like Maps and Mail and carry out tasks. In a statement, the US company said it could not offer Siri AI in Europe because of the EU's online competition rules, known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA). But EU digital affairs spokesman Thomas Regnier said "the decision not to roll out Siri AI in the EU is Apple's and Apple's only, because absolutely nothing in the DMA prohibits Apple from introducing new products in the EU". Under EU rules, the world's largest digital companies must ensure their products are interoperable, requiring Apple to open its products to features produced by its rivals. "Apple was simply unable to develop interoperability solutions that meet essential EU privacy and security standards," he told reporters. Apple sought an exemption from the EU's interoperability rules, Regnier said, but the European Commission did not give the green light. An exemption was "not an option", he explained, as it would mean favouring Apple's Siri, powered by fellow tech giant Google, on its own products. Other AI agents would not "have an equal chance to be chosen by iPhone users". It is not the first time the EU and Apple have butted heads over the rules. Apple last year called for the DMA to be repealed and has in the past blamed the EU's rules for delays in rolling out other features.

Apple Stores iCloud Data On Government Servers In China, But Throws A Hissy Fit In The EU Over Siri AI

Apple's claimed stance towards user privacy is admirable. Unfortunately, it is riddled with compromises and beholden to expediency, which substantially undermines the moral high road that Apple wants to appear to be a champion of. The European Commission spokesperson: "The decision not to allow Siri AI in the EU is Apple's and Apple's only" For the benefit of those who might not be aware, Apple lobbed a surprise at the end of its WWDC 2026 keynote presentation on Monday, when it disclosed that the all-new Siri AI won't launch in the EU and China on iOS and iPadOS, but would still be available on Macs and the Apple Vision Pro, as these two platforms are not regulated by the EU's DMA. To say that this announcement came as a surprise would be an understatement. In a subsequent presentation, Apple's Greg Joswiak revealed that the tech giant had done everything in its power to avoid just such a scenario, going so far as to reveal its the architectural plans for Siri AI to the European Commission months in advance. In Apple's books, the European Commission is to blame for the Siri AI-related impasse. The Commission, however, thinks that Apple is the proverbial instigator, with the EC's spokesperson noting in a recent press conference that "the decision not to allow Siri AI in the EU is Apple's and Apple's only," going on to note that nothing in the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) "prevents Apple from introducing new products in the EU." The issue, however, arises from the fact that the EU does not want Apple closing the market to its competitors, so to say. According to the EC spokesperson, Apple does not get to "choose which AI tools our EU citizens get to use or not." Apple claims it can't accede to the EU's demands of enabling interoperability of AI agents due to privacy concerns, and has constructed its architecture in a manner that prevents even Google from snooping in on the AI-related inferencing within Google Cloud. Interestingly, Apple has had no such qualms in China, where iCloud data is regularly stored on government-owned servers, replete with locally stored keys that theoretically allow Chinese government access to any data snippet. Of course, it remains to be seen how Apple structures the Siri AI in China. For now, it is claiming that the combo of Private Cloud Compute and "NVIDIA Confidential Computing with NVIDIA GPUs," referring to a heightened privacy state within those GPUs, is a necessary component of its ethos. The EU, however, wants a multi-agent Siri, where users get to decide which AI agent they are comfortable with. This is not a quarrel that'll resolve easily or quickly. We are looking at months or even years before an accetpable resolution is found. In the meantime, Apple can continue its grandstanding in the EU, while acquiescing to every expansive demand by the Chinese government. Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.

Apple's Biggest Siri Upgrade Yet Is Skipping the EU at Launch

Siri AI will still be available on macOS and visionOS in the EU Apple on Monday unveiled iOS 27 and other corresponding operating systems for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. While the latest updates bring several quality-of-life upgrades, the most notable introduction is Siri AI, Apple's smarter version of Siri that was promised nearly two years ago. The Cupertino-based tech giant's major overhaul of the voice assistant will be released with iOS 27 later this year. However, Apple said that users in the European Union (EU) will not receive the new Siri AI experience upon the release of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. Siri AI Features to Be Unavailable in the EU on iOS 27 In a statement issued on Monday, Apple said EU users will not have access to Siri AI and its suite of new capabilities when iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 launch later this year. According to the company, features affected by the delay include a dedicated Siri app for revisiting conversations, expanded Visual Intelligence tools, integrated writing assistance features, Siri mode in the Camera app on iPhone, and several other AI-powered experiences announced during WWDC 2026. Expressing disappointment over the development, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, said that the tech giant had spent months working with European regulators to find a solution that would allow Siri AI to launch in the region. While Apple is committed to bringing the feature to EU users in the future, Federighi noted that there is currently no timeline for its rollout. Further, Siri AI on watchOS 27 is dependent on a paired iPhone running the AI model. Therefore, users will not be able to access the Siri AI features on Apple Watch models running watchOS 27, either. As such, developers based in the region will be unable to test or integrate the new Siri AI capabilities into their apps on iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, and other firmware. Apple argued that the delay stems from the European Commission's interpretation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The company claims this would require it to grant third-party virtual assistants extensive access to user data and device functions. Under the current interpretation, it would grant external AI systems the permission to read and send messages, access files, make purchases, and perform actions across apps with insufficient safeguards. To address these concerns, Apple said it proposed a framework called Trusted System Agent. In theory, it could serve as an intermediary and enable third-party assistants to access device capabilities without compromising user privacy. The iPhone maker also suggested a phased rollout of Siri AI in the EU while gradually implementing these protections over 18 months. However, Apple said the European Commission did not approve any of its proposals. But this does not mean that Siri AI will not be available at all. According to the company, it will still be available in the EU on macOS 27 and visionOS 27, while it continues to have discussions with regulators and work towards introducing the feature in the EU region.

Apple Says Siri AI Won't Launch in EU Amid Regulatory Dispute | PYMNTS.com

The company said Monday that despite months of discussions with European authorities, it was unable to reach an agreement that would allow the enhanced assistant to debut in the region while maintaining what it described as necessary privacy safeguards. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple had proposed an EU-specific framework designed to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) without expanding access to sensitive user information. Apple said the European Commission rejected the proposals it submitted over recent months. As a result, the redesigned Siri will not be included in the EU versions of iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 when those updates become available. European officials pushed back on Apple's characterization of the situation. Per Bloomberg, the European Commission said Apple had sought exemptions from interoperability requirements under the DMA and chose not to create solutions that would permit users to work with alternative AI assistants. "The decision not to allow Siri AI in the EU is Apple's and Apple's only," European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said during a press briefing Tuesday. "Nothing in the DMA prohibits Apple from introducing products in the EU." The latest disagreement underscores the broader tensions between Apple and European regulators as the EU seeks to curb the influence of major technology companies. Apple has repeatedly criticized aspects of the DMA since the legislation took effect, objecting to provisions that require it to permit alternative app marketplaces and outside payment systems. According to a Bloomberg report, the European Commission has maintained that it has no intention of weakening or revising the law in response to the company's objections, forcing Apple to adapt some of its products and services for users in the bloc. Earlier Monday, Apple introduced the revamped Siri, positioning it as a more capable assistant that can respond to questions by using information found on users' screens as well as data from messages, emails and photos. Apple argued that the EU's interpretation of the DMA creates unacceptable privacy risks. The company said that under regulators' "extreme interpretation" of the law, it would be compelled to provide third-party virtual assistants with direct access to users' private information, "without the essential protections necessary to keep users and their data safe."

Apple failed to make its AI tool to comply to EU regulations, EU Commission says

BRUSSELS, June 9 - Apple decided not to roll out its new Siri AI tool in the European Union after it had unsuccessfully requested to be exempted of interoperability obligations for the tool, a spokesperson for the EU Commission said on Tuesday. "The decision not to roll out Siri AI in the EU is Apple's and Apple's only," spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters in Brussels. "Apple was simply unable to develop interoperability solutions that meet essential EU privacy and security standards," Regnier said. "Instead of trying to find a suitable compliance solution, Apple simply made a request to the European Commission to be exempted from their interoperability obligations. That's not an option."

No tech rule exemption for Apple, EU regulators say amid spat over Siri AI delay

BRUSSELS, June 9 (Reuters) - EU regulators on Tuesday slammed Apple for blaming EU tech rules for its decision not to roll out its upgraded assistant Siri AI in the European Union for now, saying they had rejected the company's request for an 18-month exemption from its obligations. The iPhone maker on Tuesday said Siri AI would not be available initially in the EU on iPhones or iPads and faulted the European Commission for refusing to engage constructively with them to ensure privacy and security on their devices. It told regulators of its plans to introduce an intermediary over an 18-month period to allow virtual assistants to access Siri AI safely but the request was turned down. The Commission repudiated Apple's criticism. "The decision not to roll out Siri AI in the EU is Apple's and Apple's only," spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters in Brussels, saying there was nothing in the Digital Markets Act to stop the company from introducing new products in the EU. "Apple was simply unable to develop interoperability solutions that meet essential EU privacy and security standards," Regnier said. "Instead of trying to find a suitable compliance solution, Apple simply made a request to the European Commission to be exempted from their interoperability obligations under the DMA - and this for at least 18 months. That's not an option." Europe accounted for nearly 27% of Apple's total sales in its last fiscal year. The company does not break out sales for the EU. Apple last year said the DMA had forced it to postpone the rollout of several features in the EU, including iPhone mirroring to Mac and live translation with AirPods as well as location-based features in Maps. The DMA aims to rein in the power of Big Tech, give rivals more leeway to compete and consumers more choice. DMA breaches can cost companies fines as much as 10% of their global annual turnover. (Reporting by Inti Landauro, additional reporting by Arpan Daniel Varghese and Aditya Soni; editing by Bart Meijer) By Inti Landauro and Foo Yun Chee