Apple delays launch of AI-powered features in Europe, blaming EU rules

Am I alone in thinking ai powered services are mostly wank?

I can understand the delay causes most customers angst. I'm delighted, no intrusion of ai features into my online experience has visible benefit to me, google translate aside.

This is the least likely outcome to make me as a consumer shift my purchase or oppose the EU moves to regulate ai, and apple.

The AI features wouldn’t have worked for the vast majority of EU citizens anyway. It’s “US English” only everywhere and while techies might use that a lot of people use their device in their native language, take notes in their native language, write emails in their native language etc.

The fact Apple believes their systemwide integrated features run afoul of the DMA is just a bonus.

Relevant part of the original article (FT.com) - guardian have merely editorialised it.¹

>But Apple on Friday said complexities in making the system compatible with EU rules — which have forced it to make critical parts of its iOS software and App Store services interoperable with third parties — meant EU users will be denied certain features when they launch in other parts of the world later in 2024. Apple said on Friday: “Due to the regulatory uncertainties brought about by the Digital Markets Act, we do not believe that we will be able to roll out three of these [new] features — iPhone Mirroring, SharePlay Screen Sharing enhancements and Apple Intelligence — to our EU users this year.”

If this seems at all unexpected here is an excerpt from an interview of EU Competition Chief Margrethe Vestager by CNBC earlier this week²

VESTAGER: We have a number of Apple issues; I find them very serious. I was very surprised that we would have such suspicions of Apple being non-compliant. They are very important because a lot of good business happens through the App Store, happens through payment mechanisms, so of course, even though you know I can say this is not what was expected of such a company, of course we will enforce exactly with the same top priority as with any other business. [...] What I see with the Digital Markets Act is that we get closer and closer to the business model. The changes that the DMA is demanding, they are changes that will touch the business model.

AMARO: Breakups even?

VESTAGER: Well, it remains to be seen. But if you have to carry a second app store, that will make a dent in your own app store. If you cannot promote your own services, but need to give room for competitors, rightfully, legitimately so, of course that will potentially, sort of, take away some of your own profits. So of course this will be a very difficult enforcement task, but even so much more rewarding, because the potential for the competitors of Big Tech — they are really, really big — and this is why enforcement of the DMA is a top priority.

AMARO: The reason why I am also bringing up Apple is because companies such as Spotify have also raised issues with the new changes that Apple has put forward, that ultimately the bill they will face now is the same or even bigger than what was in place before. And this is why I want to bring up the issue again of whether the DMA is actually leading to ultimate changes for the Big Tech? Or are they still hiding here, in between some of the ... well, within the law?

VESTAGER: Well, I think that you cannot judge the DMA before we’ve had the cases, and before we finalize them, because we have a toolbox of fines, of doubling fines, of potential breakup of companies — so we have a very strong toolbox to punish.

On that last point by Vestager: This is an under discussed point - The EU will not give advance clearance for compliance with the DMA. Features must first be introduced and then the EU will respond in turn to how they see it fits or doesn't fit to the "spirit" of the legislation by levying penalties.

¹ https://www.ft.com/content/360751cb-7a22-48e0-9b00-6a30ff41d...

² https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/18/apple-issues-very-serious-un...