Initial exclusion of EU from Apple's AI capabilities
Here's the paraphrased story:
Apple attributed the introduction of its AI, named "Apple Intelligence," to a limited, initially U.S.-based rollout. On the European front, no immediate plans are in place due to a major hurdle - the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Apple has stated that it won't budge EU-ward with its AI's latest features right away, due to uncertain aspects regarding the DMA. Specifically, there's a worry that the DMA's criteria for opening up to other players could potentially breach user data privacy. Apple has confirmed this info.
At the heart of Apple's plan for beneficial AI lies the software's ability to dive deep into user data on devices. This lets "Apple Intelligence" tackle questions about whether you'll make a rescheduled meeting or categorize emails based on urgency.
Key to the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a mandate for declared large platforms to grant access to other providers and refrain from promoting their own services. However, there's an exception if doing so could jeopardize a service's "integrity." It's ambiguous whether the EU Commission would approve Apple's data security concerns as grounds for such an exception. Thus, the AI's features will only grace screens in U.S. and English, limited to devices with appropriate hardware.
Furthermore, a couple of announcements from Apple's developer conference WWDC are affected by this hold-up. These include "iPhone Mirroring," permitting full control of an Apple smartphone from a Mac computer, and sharing screens with multiple users. Apple stresses that they're firming up talks with the EU Commission for a resolution, hoping to pop the AI's features in Europe too, but it's not happening this year.
Historically, Apple delivers beta test versions of new software in the summer, later makes it accessible to all in the fall when launching a new iPhone generation.
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Apple's reluctance to introduce its advanced AI features, known as "Apple Intelligence," in the EU is predominantly due to concerns over data protection and the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA requires large platforms to grant access to other providers, which Apple fears could compromise user data privacy. This potentially breaching aspect is a primary concern, as confirmed by Apple.
The latest features of Apple's AI are currently available only in the U.S., with no immediate plans for an EU rollout, due to ambiguities surrounding the approval of data security concerns as an exception under the DMA. This means that advanced features like "Apple Intelligence" capable of analyzing user data for tasks such as rescheduling meetings or categorizing emails, will remain exclusive to Apple devices in the U.S. and English-speaking regions, equipped with appropriate hardware.
