Apple will delay the launch in the European Union (EU) of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem, Apple Intelligence, as well as the functions iPhone Mirroring for Mac and SharePlay Screen Sharing due to “regulatory uncertainties” related to the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The DMA, in force since last March, aims to regulate the control power of the largest digital companies to guarantee fair competition in services that operate online. To do this, it establishes a set of criteria with which it identifies the gatekeepers, forcing them to comply with certain commitments and prohibitions.
Apple is among these market access guardians, since the firm led by Tim Cook has a strong economic position, with a turnover of more than 7.5 billion euros of annual turnover, a market capitalization of more than 75 billion euros and at least 45 million monthly active users in the EU.
With the activation of the DMA, Apple made several modifications to its operating system, releasing the iOS 17.4 update, which enabled some until then blocked options. Among them, the possibility of installing applications from third-party platforms or use alternative payment methods to the App Store.
The firm announced a few days ago the launch of its AI system, which will be integrated with the next versions of its operating systems, iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, to reach iPhone, iPad and Mac starting this fall.
As confirmed in a statement, this launch will be delayed in the European Union, as well as the arrival of the iPhone Mirroring functions for Mac – which allows access from the computer to all the functions of the smartphone once linked – and SharePlay Screen Sharing -to share screen-.
This extension of the new features in Europe is due “to regulatory uncertainties” related to the DMA, a law that requires promoting interoperability and that, according to Apple, limits the arrival of certain features to your devices when they launch in other parts of the world in late 2024.
The technology company hopes to bring the functions to EU users soon, but must examine them in detail to ensure that they do not violate EU rules, which is why their launch in these countries will be delayed, according to media such as the Financial Times. , Bloomberg and CNBC.
In this sense, those from Cupertino hope that the European Commission offers information on the permissions that it would need to grant to third parties to be able to access Apple Intelligence functions.