Tim Cook Holds 'Constructive' Talks With EU Over Siri AI Launch

[agsystems]

that is not what is at stake. siri AI uses a phone-wide index of all user data that is 100% on-device. a third party agent having that access could upload an unprecedented amount of private data to their servers. you need an approval system where such agents can only access it if they have been first granted a specific entitlement and second the user must be given the opportunity to approve or deny access to some or all of that data.

apple will need to add the security layer to the indiex, design a clear and concise UI for the user to manage privacy of that data without accidentally leaking it while making that UI friendly enough to not seem like a barrier to using third party agents. an accidental clickthrough in this case can cause a permanent privacy breach of unprecedented proportions.

thanks - I was about to reply to the same - is it technically possible? Yes - easy to do NO - if I am Apple- I wouldn't do anything if they are not sure it will be approved - in the meantime, EU users can download Grok, Gemini or whatever for their AI needs

 

[RSmith2023]

that is not what is at stake. siri AI uses a phone-wide index of all user data that is 100% on-device. a third party agent having that access could upload an unprecedented amount of private data to their servers. you need an approval system where such agents can only access it if they have been first granted a specific entitlement and second the user must be given the opportunity to approve or deny access to some or all of that data.

apple will need to add the security layer to the indiex, design a clear and concise UI for the user to manage privacy of that data without accidentally leaking it while making that UI friendly enough to not seem like a barrier to using third party agents. an accidental clickthrough in this case can cause a permanent privacy breach of unprecedented proportions.

I suspect that they have already designed it that way. Too close to release to do a major redesign like that.

We just haven’t seen it because the EU rejected the proposal outright. If they agreed then Apple could flip the switch and I suspect beta testers in the EU would have that option.

The EU seems to want these 3rd party agents to have unrestricted access.

 

[zkap]

In almost all negotiations, everyone says they are constructive..

My opinion only but I think that nothing will change.

From what I can tell, the word "constructive" is used whenever there will be absolutely no change in the situation as a result of the talks. Either the parties won't budge and things stay as they are (both sides have failed, but respectfully), or the end result has already been negotiated in private and the word is sprinkled into the conversation in order to prepare the recipients of this exciting new information, as an effort to condition them into being less pissed off with the result.

The EU is an autocratic dictatorship, sold on a false narrative of “strengthening the bloc” when it’s really about power and control. Its drive to dictate terms to European citizens and companies, on a global scale, is insane.

The EU and US together make up roughly 13% of the world’s population. Yet that 13% dictates what the other 87% can access, in medical technology, IT, and food etc.

That. Is. Insane.

China and Russia will become the next hegemons, and the EU will face the consequences. It’ll get what it deserves!

Which EU country are you from?

 

[jarman92]

I suspect that they have already designed it that way. Too close to release to do a major redesign like that.

We just haven’t seen it because the EU rejected the proposal outright. If they agreed then Apple could flip the switch and I suspect beta testers in the EU would have that option.

The EU seems to want these 3rd party agents to have unrestricted access.

Except Apple has explicitly said it will take ~18 months to engineer a solution for the EU.

 

[jarman92]

With the leak that hide my email doesn’t actually hide your email and Apple has known for over a year, does Apple really have ground to stand on?

It hides your email from random websites that will spam you, which is what the feature is for; I never expected it to protect me from dedicated attackers, and don’t think it’s been marketed that way.

Apple can ship iOS with Siri as default and allow customers to install 3rd party agents as desired

Maybe they can, but they likely won’t. And why would they? There’s really no upside.

 

[con2apple]

This sounds to me like the EU is feeling the heat and really wants to convince everyone they’re not the problem.

Let me guess, for you everything sounds like “anyone is the problem expect Apple”

A little reminder of reality: Apple has reached out to the EU. After all, Apple wants to sell something, and its lies so far haven't been enough.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Bring on the attack Cook and the EU posts. Everything other than self is bad. Self is good. Mr. Cook is very good at dealing with governments and tries to help Apple. That's what he should be doing.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Given the importance of this, I'm surprised he didn't go over in person.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Constructive conversation with EU is literally impossible.

The EU wants access to private data, period.

-

Phew!
I'm just glad that's not true in the US or China!




/s

 

[danpass]

In the USA you can engage advanced data protection, which is end-to-end encryption.

It's exactly what the EU wants to avoid.

-

 

[agsystems]

It hides your email from random websites that will spam you, which is what the feature is for; I never expected it to protect me from dedicated attackers, and don’t think it’s been marketed that way.


Maybe they can, but they likely won’t. And why would they? There’s really no upside.

I suspect that they have already designed it that way. Too close to release to do a major redesign like that.

We just haven’t seen it because the EU rejected the proposal outright. If they agreed then Apple could flip the switch and I suspect beta testers in the EU would have that option.

The EU seems to want these 3rd party agents to have unrestricted access.

^^^^ Too much noise about 3rd party agents - I’m guessing most people won’t be granting access anyway. I’m a nobody, but I still have zero interest in handing Meta, Grok, or Gemini my data so they can do whatever mysterious, impossible-to-opt-out-of nonsense they dream up with it.

Also you can bet Apple will get sued when the data escapes the 3rd party containment .

 

[agsystems]

Given the importance of this, I'm surprised he didn't go over in person.

Well, that pretty much tells you how far along the "deal" is. Until Apple knows its solution will actually get approved, I doubt they'll lift a finger. No point rolling out the red carpet for a plan that regulators might toss straight into the shredder.

 

[surferfb]

Let me guess, for you everything sounds like “anyone is the problem expect Apple”

No, sometimes Apple is the problem. Just not in this instance.

A little reminder of reality: Apple has reached out to the EU. After all, Apple wants to sell something, and its lies so far haven't been enough.

Well, given the EU is the one talking about the meeting, where Apple is saying nothing, sure sounds to me like the EU is the one who wants people to know the meeting is happening and was “constructive”, not Apple.

And I’d like a source on the “lies” you are referring to.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Well, that pretty much tells you how far along the "deal" is. Until Apple knows its solution will actually get approved, I doubt they'll lift a finger. No point rolling out the red carpet for a plan that regulators might toss straight into the shredder.

In diplomacy, extra effort and taking high roads can be a very important and underappreciated technique.

 

[turbineseaplane]

On one thread we are lauding Apple for "fighting for our privacy"..

..and simultaneously right now we have a flaw in Apple Hide My Email that went undisclosed for a year.

Apple Hide My Email Vulnerability Exposes Real Email Addresses

A flaw in Apple's Hide My Email service can reportedly allow almost anyone to uncover the real email address behind a generated alias, and Apple has failed to address it for more than a year since it was first reported. 404 Media is withholding the technical specifics of the vulnerability...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Radeon85]

If they don't like the EU's terms they can always just leave. They knew what they were getting into.

We didn't like being dictated to in the UK by the EU, controlling what we can and cannot do, and being forced to pay them stupid amounts of money for the privilege. Leaving is the best thing we ever did; I certainly wouldn't be using the new Siri or any other features that are blocked if we were still in the EU.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Leaving is the best thing we ever did;

hmm .. I'll take your word for it, but it sure seems like the data has indicated Brexit-ing has been a disaster.

I don't live there, you do, so I defer to you and your preferences. ✌️

 

[one more]

“Constructive” is as vague as it gets, but hey, the very fact that they are talking about it highlights that both sides are somewhat interested for it to be released in the EU.

FWIW, I regularly move between France (EU) and Switzerland (non-EU). While in Switzerland, even for a day, I have Siri AI with the app and all its bells and whistles. The moment I cross over to France, the dedicated Siri app stops working, yet stays installed, and Siri itself drops down to its iOS 26 rosy glowing borders self. 😋

My personal position right now - while I understand the EC ideal of “equal opportunities for all”, I would like the EC to give Apple a break on this one and release Siri AI here as is, with the added ability to disable it, as currently we cannot. Then if I want to use a competing AI agent, I can give it as much info as I please to carry out the given task, just as I have been doing until now.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Cook about to sell out Apple again.

 

[Liquid Galaxy]

The EU are poison...We here in the UK thought we had left 8 years ago, why should this affect us? Unless it doesn't? I'm not in the dev beta.

 

[Contact_Feanor]

The EU ought to be abolished, as it merely restricts technological progress. Moreover, some of its absurd measures stand out—particularly the infuriating cookie pop-ups appearing on nearly every website.

The UK left the EU 10 years ago, and we're still very well enjoying it and not suffering that self-inflicted blow to our economy. Wether or not the EU ought to be abolished will very much be a EU decision, not the scorned ex's decision thank you very much.

 

[Contact_Feanor]

It hides your email from random websites that will spam you, which is what the feature is for; I never expected it to protect me from dedicated attackers, and don’t think it’s been marketed that way.


Maybe they can, but they likely won’t. And why would they? There’s really no upside.

If people notice that they are being advertised against things they said in iMessage they'll say "apple is spying on me; what happens on iPhone stays on iPhone is lies!", not "maybe that gemini AI I use instead of Siri is reading my messages".

 

[Contact_Feanor]

The EU are poison...We here in the UK thought we had left 8 years ago, why should this affect us?

Leaving the EU was the biggest economic facepalm any country ever did (except for maybe voting trump to office again); has lead straight to the political turmoil that's still going on (how many PM's in that last 10 years?) and the definitive waning of the UK's role as a global power. And for what? Control of your borders? more immigration than before. Freedom to make your own trade agreements? Good luck with the tiny market compared to the EU. There's not been a single upside to Brexit, and still you blame the EU for being poison? lol.

 

[surferfb]

The EU are poison...We here in the UK thought we had left 8 years ago, why should this affect us? Unless it doesn't? I'm not in the dev beta.

It doesn’t impact the UK

 

[Nekronos]

You don't think Apple is like Mafia? They just raised prices 25%, even products that have next to no storage inside, just raise the prices by 25%. WTF?
It shows again that companies like Apple need a strong treatment.
Apple can't wait with their AI either, so they must come up with a good solution, as it is absolutely possible. They just don't want to. They just want money, money, money.

Because 23,000,000,000.00 PROFIT last quarter was not enough...

Are you really going to call a consumer product company that nobody has to buy things from a mafia over the regulatory body that is forcing companies and consumers to abide regulation?