Apple to delay new AI features in EU due to Big Tech rules

June 24, 2024
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Apple to delay new AI features in EU due to Big Tech rules

Photo credit: Trac Vu/Unsplash

Apple is delaying the rollout of some of its new features in the European Union market, expressing concerns over the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), various news outlets reported on June 21.

Earlier this month, the American tech company announced a series of AI features and software enhancements for the iPhone and other products, including the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT into Apple’s operating systems. The said upgrades will launch later this year.

However, it said it would delay the release of Apple Intelligence, iPhone Mirroring, and SharePlay Screen Sharing in Europe, claiming that the DMA’s interoperability rules, which require tech products to work together, could create security vulnerabilities.

“We are concerned that the interoperability requirements of the DMA could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security,” Apple said in an email, according to Reuters.

Apple says it needs the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, to clarify how much access third parties would get to its Apple Intelligence features and device-sharing under DMA.

“We are committed to collaborating with the European Commission in an attempt to find a solution that would enable us to deliver these features to our EU customers without compromising their safety,” it reportedly said.

Read more: Nvidia tops Microsoft, becomes most valuable public company

The DMA sets out rules for Big Tech companies that act as “gatekeepers” in the digital world to create a fairer playing field. Besides Apple, firms labeled as gatekeepers in the EU are Alphabet, Amazon, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft.

The European Commission, while welcoming the presence of major tech platforms, emphasized the need for compliance with fair competition rules stating:

“The EU is an attractive market of 450mn potential users, and has always been open for business for any company that wants to provide services in the European internal market. Gatekeepers are welcome to offer their services in Europe, provided that they comply with our rules aimed at ensuring fair competition.”

Apple is not the first Big Tech firm to push for AI initiatives, but faced regulatory hurdles in the EU. Just this month, Meta said it would not launch its AI models in Europe for the time being after the Irish Data Protection Commission told it to delay its plan to harness data from Facebook and Instagram users.

Read more: Elon Musk withdraws lawsuit against OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman

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