It was the most highly anticipated feature unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this year.
But Apple now says that Apple Intelligence and two other major updates won’t come to devices in the European Union until next year.
In a statement, the tech giant revealed it would delay the rollout of its massive AI update in the EU due to privacy concerns arising from the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Apple says it will also hold back iPhone Mirroring for Macs and SharePlay Screen Sharing improvements due to “regulatory uncertainties.”
MailOnline has contacted Apple for more information, but it is not yet clear whether this will affect UK users.
Apple Intelligence is coming to Apple devices in the EU no later than next year due to a regulatory clash with the EU
The long-awaited AI features were due to roll out alongside iOS 18 later this year, but now won’t arrive in the EU until 2024 (stock image)
In a statement, Apple said: “Due to regulatory uncertainties resulting from the Digital Markets Act (DMA), we do not believe we will be able to roll out three of these features.”
The rollout of Apple Intelligence was originally planned as part of iOS 18 in the fall of this year.
Apple says it is “committed to working” with the EU to find a way around this problem, but will not release the three new iOS 18 features to EU countries this year.
Other features coming with iOS 18 – including a new design for the Photos app and more customizable home screen options – are expected to come to EU countries.
But the delay means that Apple users in the EU will initially miss out on a wide range of features that make use of the highly anticipated generative AI tool.
Arguably the biggest part of Apple Intelligence is the integration of OpenAI’s hugely popular chatbot ChatGPT with Siri, Apple’s built-in virtual assistant.
Apple Intelligence also includes the use of AI-generated “gene emojis” that allow users to create their own custom emojis with simple text prompts.
That means EU customers will have to wait for features like Genmoji (pictured), AI text tools and image generation
This feature allows iPhone users to create any emoji they want by simply typing a simple description in the Messages app.
Also, EU customers will not have access to AI text and image editing tools that help provide summaries of long texts or improve the tone of emails.
It doesn’t mean EU customers will never get the new features, but it could still take a while for Apple to navigate the regulatory hurdles.
The problem causing the delay is due to a rule in the EU’s DMA that was adopted in 2023.
The rule means that all basic functionalities must work on all devices and ecosystems to prevent large companies from acting as ‘gatekeepers’ and stifling competition from smaller companies.
Apple CEO Tim Cook (pictured) called Apple Intelligence “a new chapter in Apple innovation,” but that new chapter will now have to wait as Apple complains that the EU’s Digital Markets Act could “force” privacy compromises
Earlier this year, the same law was used to force Apple to allow the introduction of third-party app stores on the iPhone.
However, Apple now says, “The DMA’s interoperability requirements could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that endanger user privacy and data security.”
It adds: ‘We are committed to working with the European Commission in an effort to find a solution that allows us to deliver these features to our EU customers without compromising their security.’
The company did not specify exactly which aspects of customer privacy would be compromised and why.
Apple’s announcement comes as the company faces a $38 billion fine for violating European regulator rules over the way it manages the App Store.
Today, the European Commission said its investigation found that Apple’s restrictions on app developers violate the DMA.
Apple’s AI products have also been criticized for their privacy issues, with Elon Musk calling ChatGPT integration an “unacceptable security breach.”
This could give the tech giant up to 10 percent of its annual global revenue of $383 billion.
This comes after Apple’s own AI update was criticized for undermining customer privacy, namely Apple’s plans to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its Siri assistant.
Elon Musk subsequently said the update was an “unacceptable security breach” and said he would no longer allow iPhones into business premises.
Mr. Musk wrote on X: “If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, Apple devices will be banned at my companies.”
He added that guests’ iPhones should be kept in a “Faraday cage” to block electromagnetic signals.