Apple Intelligence Features Not Coming to European Union at Launch Due to DMA

[deaglecat]

It’s sad. But also not really: AI is English only for the foreseeable future, and for the vast majority of EU citizens, English is not their first language. And changing between languages on Siri is a major pain.

Interesting point... does AI (or more specifically LLMs) translate foreign language requests to English... compute the answer and then translate the reply back into the original language ?

Or is this just a technical limitation of Apple AI being repurposed as a political attack on the EU for daring to place technical requirements on Apple (e.g. USB C, DMA, side-loading)...

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Take it up with *checks notes* the U.S. Department of Justice.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/21/24105363/apple-doj-monopoly-lawsuit

First point...we're talking EU here, where Apple has roughly 25% marketshare. Apple is not a monopoly.

Second point...the DOJ is going to lose this case, precisely because due to precedence, Apple, with 60% marketshare in the US, won't be deemed to be a monopoly.

 

[I7guy]

Take it up with *checks notes* the U.S. Department of Justice.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/21/24105363/apple-doj-monopoly-lawsuit

Reminds me of : if the glove don’t fit you must acquit. Bottom line: the outcome of a lawsuit or trial is anything but guaranteed.

 

[MilaM]

I don’t think so. Over regulation comes with a price. The big devs are set to capitalize on this at the expense of consumers.

All major competitors are also launching AI features. I do think it's a rather nice opportunity to win over customers.

 

[I7guy]

All major competitors are also launching AI features. I do think it's a rather nice opportunity to win over customers.

I guess it depends on the customer and what they are looking for in a phone released in 2024.

 

[MilaM]

First point...we're talking EU here, where Apple has roughly 25% marketshare. Apple is not a monopoly.

Second point...the DOJ is going to lose this case, precisely because due to precedence, Apple, with 60% marketshare in the US, won't be deemed to be a monopoly.

So if the DOJ wins (parts) of this case. Will you then be convinced, that Apple has a (kind of) monopoly?

 

[AppliedMicro]

The IOS App store generates more profit for developers than any other mobile platform.

...says the same user that just 2 days ago stated:

I could agree with you if we are talking about typical monopolies. But Apple is nowhere close to monopoly power in the EU. They have what, 23% of the marketshare?

you don't go after the company that has 23% marketshare if you want to increase competition to the market leader. That's just silly.

...and dubbed Apple "a minority player" that should be strengthened against a dominant player.

👉 Changing your position as it suits you? 😉

 

[GrayFlannel]

Really? I haven’t conducted my research well then

I‘m unclear on it so I could be wrong.

 

[MilaM]

I guess it depends on the customer and what they are looking for in a phone released in 2024.

Sure. I don't need to have the latest and greatest. I'm content with my iPhone 13 for now and would not benefit from Apple's AI features anyway. But there certainly is a demographic that changes phones frequently, depending on which manufacturer has the coolest features.

 

[Shirasaki]

GREAT! Grow the Android marketshare, furthering the actual dominance that Google has in the EU. That's the way to grow competition!

So much hate on android and Google, despite the fact that the bar to enter smartphone and ecosystem competition is incredibly high. Or maybe some people just want Apple to have de facto monopoly by kicking Google and android out of smartphone market.

 

[tehabe]

It's a rabbit hole only because you're simply wrong on this point. Apple is not a monopoly.

So Apple is not a monopoly for distributing apps for iOS and iPadOS?

 

[surferfb]

They have shown many times already, they do act out of spite in regard to this regulation. Think about the Progressive Web App move some time ago.

Anyway, I haven't read the whole thread. Would you be so kind to link to your DMA quote?

Sure - here you go:

And who is to say what the "spirit of the DMA" is if a third party app asks for the same API access to have the cut-copy-paste feature. Based on my reading Apple has to give it to them!

From Article 6, Section 7 (emphasis mine):

The gatekeeper shall allow providers of services and providers of hardware, free of charge, effective interoperability with, and access for the purposes of interoperability to, the same hardware and software features accessed or controlled via the operating system or virtual assistant listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9) as are available to services or hardware provided by the gatekeeper.

I mean, I'd say even the text of the law is pretty clear there.

Reading that text (and to repeat, I am not a lawyer, and definitely not a European lawyer, so I could be wrong) I would assume any hardware/OS maker would be able to request the ability to create a competing feature on their computers/OSes (e.g, Meta for their VR headsets, or your Windows computer) - and Apple would have to let them. I would assume Apple considers that an absolute non-starter for privacy reasons.

 

[Zest28]

Samsung must be laughing like crazy. They are the same size as Apple in the EU but they don't have to deal with all this DMA crap.

Apple should do what Samsung does, just put Android on your phone in the EU.

 

[okieoutwest]

Bringing up market share shows you are out over your skis here, so I'll just say thanks for declaring your opinion. Hope you have a good day.

First point...we're talking EU here, where Apple has roughly 25% marketshare. Apple is not a monopoly.

Second point...the DOJ is going to lose this case, precisely because due to precedence, Apple, with 60% marketshare in the US, won't be deemed to be a monopoly.

 

[AppliedMicro]

I would assume Apple considers that an absolute non-starter for privacy reasons.

You'd be correct in assuming Apple considers that an absolute non-starter for privacy monetisation reasons.

 

[surferfb]

So Apple is not a monopoly for distributing apps for iOS and iPadOS?

Again - McDonalds having a monopoly for Big Mac customers doesn't mean they have a hamburger monopoly. The EU isn't coming in to say "McDonalds has a monopoly on Big Mac customers so McDonalds has to let Burger King set up shop inside McDonalds stores."

 

[Shirasaki]

It's a rabbit hole only because you're simply wrong on this point. Apple is not a monopoly.

Many would agree with me, also duopoly is a thing. But whatever, I won’t try further to change your mind.

 

[surferfb]

You'd be correct in assuming Apple considers that an absolute non-starter for privacy monetisation reasons.

It amazes me that those of you distrust Apple so much, but also love their products so much that you'd rather make the products worse than switch to a competitor.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

So if the DOJ wins (parts) of this case. Will you then be convinced, that Apple has a (kind of) monopoly?

The DOJ will not win the case, as it rests entirely on Apple being a monopoly. No company with Apple's marketshare has ever been found to be a monopoly in the US.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I'm not a lawyer, and definitely not a European lawyer, so maybe I'm wrong. Would love someone who is knowledgeable to chime in.

My guess is they'll eventually have to allow third party AI assistants, but no one is close enough to building one yet to make the fight worth it. My guess is Apple will make a security/privacy/undermining the OS argument and hope the courts back them on that, but who knows.

I do think Apple wants to delight its customers, and hates having to do this, but unlike many here, my guess is they actually have very good privacy/security reasons for doing so. You may disagree with the reasoning behind their choices - I could see why one would say "I don't care about the privacy, give me the features" - but Apple is a publicly traded company; they aren't doing things out of spite.

I'll give you this one as far as digital assistants go - imagine giving Tiktok or something the same kind of access Siri has, that's some nightmare fuel right there.

 

[fwmireault]

It probably has more to do with the fact that Apple Intelligence will only be available in US English at launch. I don’t see where we could have specific violations of the DMA

 

[Timo_Existencia]

...says the same user that just 2 days ago stated:


...and dubbed Apple "a minority player" that should be strengthened against a dominant player.

👉 Changing your position as it suits you? 😉

Both things are true. Apple has generated more revenue for developers than any other mobile platform. And Apple has roughly 23-27% marketshare in the EU.

I have no idea why you think that's "changing my position."

 

[surferfb]

Again - McDonalds having a monopoly for Big Mac customers doesn't mean they have a hamburger monopoly. The EU isn't coming in to say "McDonalds has a monopoly on Big Mac customers so McDonalds has to let Burger King set up shop inside McDonalds stores."

That was a bad example. To be more accurate, in this case, the EU is saying "I know McDonalds has 72% of the market, Burger King, but sorry - they get to sell the Big Mac in your stores because you have a monopoly on Whopper customers."

 

[iHorseHead]

I figured this was going to happen to Apple Intelligence but iPhone Mirroring, really? 😵‍💫 I was looking forward to that

Me too. More than anything…

 

[Zest28]

Many would agree with me, also duopoly is a thing. But whatever, I won’t try further to change your mind.

There is no duopoly. These apps are available on many other operating systems besides Android and iOS.

Spotify is even available on the Xbox.