Apple's highly anticipated features for its upcoming operating systems, iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, will not be available in the European Union when the products launch later this year. The features affected include Apple Intelligence, iPhone Mirroring to macOS Sequoia, and SharePlay Screen Sharing.
The decision stems from regulatory concerns regarding compliance with the Digital Markets Act, prompting Apple to announce that these features will not be accessible to EU customers this year. This development is significant, as these features were among the highlights of Apple's WWDC unveiling.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple signaled that these features won't be available to European Union customers at all this year, citing regulatory concerns.
Apple Intelligence represents a major AI-powered initiative, offering new features such as writing tools, Image Playgrounds, notification summaries, quick replies, and a substantial overhaul of the Siri virtual assistant. iPhone Mirroring to macOS Sequoia allows users to view a live interactive screen of their iPhone on their Mac, with notifications also mirrored to the Mac display. SharePlay Screen Sharing enhances the screen sharing feature in FaceTime, enabling users to remotely control a friend's device.
The specifics of the interoperability requirements outlined in the Digital Markets Act, which led to the exclusion of these features in the EU, remain unclear. However, Apple cited concerns over privacy and security as the primary reasons for their decision to omit these features. An official release date for these features in the EU has not been announced.
Outside the EU, Apple Intelligence is set to launch this fall for US English language devices with iOS 18.0. Additional Intelligence features, including new Siri capabilities, will be introduced in future iOS 18 updates.
