EU tech chief and Tim Cook hold constructive talks over Siri AI delay

Apple CEO Tim Cook and EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen held a video call on Monday that both sides described as “constructive,” though no concrete outcome was announced. The discussion centered on Apple’s decision to withhold its rebuilt Siri AI from iPhones and iPads in the European Union due to regulatory uncertainty under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Source: thenextweb

The dispute

Apple argues that the European Commission rejected every proposal it submitted to bring Siri AI to Europe while safely supporting rival assistants. The company says granting third-party assistants the same deep access as Siri AI would compromise user security. The Commission counters that Apple has failed to build interoperability that meets EU privacy and security standards. Source: thenextweb

Differing views

Both narratives can coexist, contributing to the deadlock. Apple maintains that stripping permissions for rivals would leave users exposed, while the Commission views such access as essential to prying open gatekeeper platforms under the DMA. The restriction applies only to iOS and iPadOS, which are formally designated under the law; Siri AI will still be available on macOS, visionOS, and watchOS in the EU. Source: thenextweb

What’s next

The meeting produced no timeline for Siri AI’s European launch, nor any indication of a policy shift. Observers note the call was more about maintaining a dialogue than a breakthrough. The broader context includes a €500 million fine for Apple over App Store rules and ongoing DMA scrutiny. Source: cna