Apple to Delay AI Rollout in Europe - BankInfoSecurity
Apple announced on Friday that it will be postponing the rollout of artificial intelligence-powered features on its smartphones in Europe. This decision is a result of European regulations aimed at curbing the influence of major tech companies. As a consequence, Apple customers in Europe will not have access to Apple Intelligence, which includes AI-powered features such as writing, image generation, and text-to-image models for iPhone, MacOS, and iPad. Additionally, the company will halt iPhone mirroring and SharePlay screen-sharing functions, which allow users to share their device screens with Mac computers or other users.
Regulatory Concerns
Apple cited regulatory uncertainties stemming from the Digital Markets Act (DMA) as the reason for this delay. The DMA imposes requirements on companies identified as "gatekeepers," a category that includes Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Meta. These requirements include restrictions on combining consumer data from different services within the same company and ensuring interoperability with third-party software.
An Apple spokesperson expressed concerns that complying with the interoperability requirements of the DMA could compromise the integrity of their products, posing risks to user privacy and data security.
European Regulations and Apple's Compliance
The Digital Markets Act has already had an impact on Apple, as European regulators have used it to challenge the tech giant's dominance in the app store market. Changes resulting from the DMA now allow European consumers to download apps from third-party sources and provide developers with the option to process payments outside the Apple ecosystem, avoiding associated fees.
European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager has raised concerns about Apple's compliance with the new regulations. She stated that the changes made by Apple may not go far enough, indicating serious issues that need to be addressed.
Industry Impact
Apple is not the only tech company facing setbacks in Europe. Meta recently announced a delay in its plan to train large language models using publicly shared data from Facebook and Instagram users in Europe. This decision followed complaints from a rights group to data regulators, highlighting the scrutiny that tech companies are facing in the region.
As regulatory landscapes continue to evolve, tech companies are navigating complex challenges in ensuring compliance while innovating with AI technologies.
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