Apple introduced Siri Artificial Intelligence, an entirely new version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, but will not make it available on iPhone or iPad in the European Union at launch. Apple says the delay is tied to the Digital Markets Act and the inability to secure regulatory approval for proposed ways to support other virtual assistants while preserving privacy and security. Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, said the company is disappointed and does not currently have a timeline for availability on iOS and iPadOS in the EU.
When iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 launch later this year, users in the EU will not have access to Siri Artificial Intelligence and its advanced capabilities, including the new dedicated app to revisit conversations, an expanded Visual Intelligence experience, integrated tools for writing, Siri mode in Camera on iOS, and other Siri Artificial Intelligence capabilities announced at WWDC26. Because Siri Artificial Intelligence on watchOS 27 requires a paired iPhone with Siri Artificial Intelligence, EU users will not have access to Siri Artificial Intelligence on watchOS 27. EU users will be able to access Siri Artificial Intelligence on macOS 27 and visionOS 27.
Developers located in the EU will not be able to test or use the new Siri Artificial Intelligence features for their apps on iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and watchOS 27. Apple says Siri Artificial Intelligence relies on on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute, and argues that the regulators’ interpretation of the Digital Markets Act would require giving any virtual assistant direct access to users’ private data and control over installed applications without essential protections.
According to Apple, the Digital Markets Act would require any Artificial Intelligence system to receive nearly unlimited access to a user’s device and the ability to act autonomously without ongoing visibility and control. Apple designed a solution called Trusted System Agent as an intermediary that would let virtual assistants safely access the same features and capabilities as Siri Artificial Intelligence for devices in the EU. Apple also shared a plan to launch Siri Artificial Intelligence in the EU while gradually rolling out this new solution over an 18-month period, but the European Commission did not agree to the proposal.
