Apple announced on Friday that it will delay the release of three recently announced features in the European Union until 2024, including its highly anticipated “Apple Intelligence” AI product. DMA), an antitrust regulation aimed at ensuring fair competition in the tech industry.
In a statement, Apple explained that the features — Apple Intelligence, iPhone mirroring, and enhancements to its SharePlay screen sharing product — would not be available to EU users. The company expressed concerns that the interoperability requirements mandated by the DMA could force it to “compromise the integrity of our products in ways that threaten user privacy and data security.”
The DMA, which was approved in 2023, was designed to address concerns that Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok's parent bite dance as “gatekeepers” preventing competition from smaller companies. are working as Among its various provisions, the DMA requires that essential functions work seamlessly across different devices and ecosystems.
These interoperability requirements affect not only iPhones and iPads, but also Macs, due to the iPhone mirroring feature that enables users to mirror the iPhone screen on a Mac.
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The suspension of Apple Intelligence can be a major disappointment for users. The AI product boasts a number of features, including the ability to proofread and rewrite text in friendly or professional tones, create custom emojis called Jinmoji, search for specific messages, summarize and transcribe phone calls, and prioritize notifications. To display Additionally, Apple announced a partnership with OpenAI and a roadmap for integrating other models into the platform.
Apple shares remained largely flat despite the announcement. In 2023, the company reported net sales in Europe of $94.3 billion, nearly a quarter of its global net sales. Apple Intelligence also won't be available in Greater China, which accounts for $72.6 billion of the company's 2023 sales.
Apple stressed its commitment to working with the EU to find a solution that would allow it to introduce these features to EU users without compromising security. “We are committed to cooperating with EU regulators to resolve these issues,” the company said, “so that we can deliver these innovative products to our valued customers in Europe.”
Source: CNBC