Apple sidelines Siri AI in the EU, blaming DMA compliance for iOS 27 feature gap
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A fragmented launch for Apple’s biggest AI bet
Apple’s rollout of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 is arriving with a significant caveat for its European user base. While the updates introduce the long-awaited Siri AI—the comprehensive overhaul of Apple’s voice assistant promised nearly two years ago—users within the European Union will find the most potent features of the update missing at launch.
The decision marks a deepening rift between Cupertino and Brussels, as Apple explicitly cites the Digital Markets Act (DMA) as the catalyst for the regional restriction. According to a statement released Monday, the company believes that implementing the full Siri AI suite within the EU’s current regulatory framework would compromise the security and privacy of its users.
The ‘Missing’ Feature Set
The scope of the delay is substantial. For most users, Siri AI isn’t just a voice upgrade; it is a system-wide integration of generative intelligence. EU users will be denied access to the dedicated Siri app designed for revisiting and managing complex conversations, as well as the expanded Visual Intelligence tools that allow the device to identify and interact with real-world objects in real-time.
Furthermore, the integrated writing assistance—a core pillar of the iOS 27 productivity push—and the specialized Siri mode within the iPhone Camera app will be unavailable. These capabilities, which were centerpiece demonstrations during WWDC 2026, represent a shift from a simple command-and-control assistant to a proactive agent capable of contextual reasoning.
The DMA deadlock
This is not the first time the DMA has forced Apple’s hand in Europe. From the mandated adoption of third-party app stores to the willingness to allow alternative browser engines, the EU has been systematically dismantling the ‘walled garden.’ However, AI presents a more complex challenge. The DMA requires interoperability and openness that Apple argues is fundamentally at odds with the tight, on-device processing and secure cloud hand-offs required for Siri AI to function without leaking sensitive user data.
Industry analysts suggest that Apple is using a ‘privacy-first’ narrative to negotiate better terms with EU regulators. By framing the delay as a security necessity rather than a technical failure, Apple puts the onus back on the European Commission to prove that its interoperability mandates can be met without creating vulnerabilities in the operating system.
Strategic implications for the ecosystem
The delay creates a precarious situation for Apple in one of its most lucrative markets. As competitors like Google and Samsung continue to push aggressive AI integration across global markets, Apple risks a perceived ‘feature lag’ in Europe. While the core iOS 27 update still brings various quality-of-life improvements, the absence of the AI layer removes the primary incentive for users to upgrade to the latest hardware.
The company has not provided a specific timeline for when these features will arrive in the EU, stating only that they are working with regulators to find a compliant path forward. For now, millions of iPhone and iPad users in the region will be running a version of iOS 27 that feels like a transitional update rather than the generative leap Apple has marketed to the rest of the world.
