Apple will delay the launch of three new artificial intelligence features in Europe because of tougher EU tech regulations that require the giant to make its products and services compatible with those of competitors.

KEY FACTS 

• On Friday, the company announced that three of the new AI features — Phone Mirroring, SharePlay screen-sharing enhancements and Apple Intelligence (one of the long-awaited innovations that work with powerful generative models) — won’t be rolling out to EU users this year due to regulatory uncertainty related to the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), reported by the Reuters agency.

IMPORTANT QUOTE

“Specifically, we are concerned that the interoperability requirements under the DMA may force us to compromise the integrity of our products in a way that threatens user privacy and data security. “We are committed to cooperating with the European Commission to find a solution that allows us to provide these features to our customers in the EU without jeopardizing their safety,” Apple said in an email.

CONTRA

The EU is an attractive market with 450 million potential consumers and has always been open for business for any company that wants to provide services to the European internal market. So-called “gatekeeper” companies are welcome to offer their services in Europe, provided they comply with our rules aimed at ensuring fair competition,” said EU spokesman Thomas Rainier, quoted by The Verge, on the occasion of Apple’s statement.

KEY STORY 

The news comes after the iPhone maker unveiled its plans for the wider integration of artificial intelligence into Apple products.

However, the company is facing problems because of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into force in March and provides for strict rules in the world of technology in the territory of the European Union. According to strict technology rules, iOS – the company’s operating system – has been designated as a so-called “gatekeeper”, which could force the tech giant to change its way of working in the region.

For months, Apple and Brussels have been embroiled in a regulatory battle over compliance, after the EU launched a probe in March into whether the company was still undermining competition.