Apple Withholds New Siri AI Features from EU iPhones and iPads Citing DMA Interoperability Rules

Apple will not release its rebuilt Siri AI features on iPhone and iPad in the 27 EU member states when the update launches this autumn. The company cited the Digital Markets Act's interoperability requirements as the reason for the delay. GB News reported the decision affects users across all EU countries.

Federighi added that Apple hopes to bring the features to the EU eventually and will continue engaging with regulators. The new Siri has been rebuilt from the ground up to use new Artificial Intelligence models. It can answer complex general knowledge questions and personal queries about photos, emails, and text messages stored on the device.

Most processing occurs on the device's system-on-a-chip or through Private Cloud Compute, which handles complex requests without allowing Apple or anyone else to see the data. The new Siri will be available in the UK. GB News reported that the UK is outside the scope of EU Digital Markets Act rules due to Brexit.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has not forced Apple to open up technologies required for the new features. Apple and the CMA engaged in conversations about the importance of privacy and security, including end-to-end encryption for photographs, emails, text messages, notes, and health data. The CMA secured commitments from Apple to make its ecosystem less closed for developers.

Apple is designated a gatekeeper under the DMA for its smartphone business but not for its MacBooks, iMac, or Vision Pro headset. EU-based developers will not be able to test or use the new Siri AI features for their apps on iOS and iPadOS.

The Digital Markets Act was created by the European Commission to regulate gatekeepers with a list of do's and don'ts. The six gatekeepers designated under the DMA are Amazon, Alphabet, ByteDance, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple. Siri has been preinstalled on every iPhone since 2011.

Apple proposed introducing an intermediary over 18 months to allow other assistants access to Siri-like features without impacting privacy and security. The European Commission rejected Apple's request for an 18-month exemption from DMA interoperability obligations. " Europe accounted for nearly 27% of Apple's total sales in its last fiscal year.

Apple will release the new Siri with its latest operating systems in autumn 2026 following an extension period of beta testing. Developers can update apps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac so that Siri can draw information for multi-step requests.