Apple says no to AI features in EU

In June this year, Apple announced it would not roll out its AI features under Apple Intelligence in the EU market over ‘regulatory uncertainties’ and privacy concerns stemming from the Digital Markets Act.

It said that the interoperability requirements of the DMA could force it to compromise the integrity of its products, risking user privacy and security.

The interoperability provisions in the antitrust law are aimed at tackling a ‘gatekeeper’ effect by large companies.

Apple Intelligence includes AI capabilities to write and summarise text, create and edit images, transcription, as well as a more intelligent Siri. Apple Intelligence will start rolling out in a phased manner from next month in other markets.

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EU wins tax case against AppleApple now also has to pay up 13 billion Euros in unpaid taxes to Ireland, following a European Court of Justice verdict earlier this month.

“Today is a huge win for European citizens and tax justice,” the EU’s competition commissioner Margarethe Vestager said on X.

This was a dispute between Apple and Ireland on the one hand, and the European Commission on the other, which in 2016 found that Ireland had artificially reduced Apple’s effective tax rate to as low as 0.05% in 2014, amounting to unfair preferential treatment toward the company.

EU to warn Apple to open up iOS

The latest development in the saga comes with the EU expected to warn Apple to allow rivals to access the iPhone’s operating system, Bloomberg reported.

Rules under the EU’s Digital Markets Act require making operating systems fully functional with other technologies and enabling developers access to key features.

If Apple does not fall in line, a formal probe may follow with the risk of a fine of up to 10% of the company’s global turnover.