Apple Intelligence is one of the best aspects of the iPhone 16 models that launched earlier this month, and it appears that the service might not be coming to the EU after all. EU has been giving Apple a hard time lately with all of its laws and initiatives, and it is becoming hard for the company to comply with all of them. A new AI Pact has been put forth that asks companies to prepare for the new AI rules coming in the EU region, and Apple has not signed the agreement as of yet, according to Per Politico.
Apple and Meta are reluctant to sign the new AI Pact in the EU, which could disqualify them from offering Apple Intelligence and Meta AI in the region
The AI Pact asks companies to comply with the AI rules in the region. While a plethora of companies, including Google and Microsoft, have signed or agreed to the terms, Apple and Meta are reluctant to do so. If the companies do not sign the agreement, it would become hard for them to offer their AI services in the region. If you are not familiar, the EU AI Pact asks companies to:
- Create a strategy for managing their use of AI.
- Identify which of their AI systems are high-risk.
- Teach their staff how to handle AI responsibly.
Apple says that it is already working with the regulatory authorities in the EU to bring Apple Intelligence to the region, but the latest decision does not give a good sign at all. Currently, 115 companies have signed the new AI Pact in the EU, including Adobe, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Samsung, Snap, and many more. Meta has taken the same stance as Apple in this regard, which could mean that Meta AI would not be coming to the EU as well if the company does not comply with the laws.
A European Union initiative to speed up measures to control artificial intelligence got off to a rocky start on Wednesday as technology giants Meta and Apple passed up on joining the pledge.
All companies and industries will have to comply with rules listed in the Pact under the EU’s AI Act, which is rolled out in stages in coming years. The goal of the voluntary Pact was to get companies to comply early with the AI Act rules.
So far, it does not seem that Apple and Meta will be able to offer Apple Intelligence and Meta AI in the EU unless both companies decide to sign the pact. The iPhone 16 is a major upgrade, but most of its upgrades are tied to the forthcoming AI features, and if it does not meet the cut, there is little to no reason to upgrade to the latest models. The iPhone's software would hold back sales in the region and it would reflect in the company's overall revenue. Do you think Apple would sign the AI Pact in the EU?
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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