Apple’s new suite of AI features won’t work in the EU or China
iPhone 16 preorders have opened, and Apple fans worldwide are heading in their thousands to the company’s online store to secure an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max.
This year’s biggest upgrade is Apple Intelligence, the forthcoming suite of advanced AI features coming to iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
However, two regions with a combined population of nearly two billion people are set to lose out on Apple Intelligence entirely. Apple won’t be bringing Apple Intelligence to the EU, and we can now confirm that Apple Intelligence won’t be available on iPhones sold in mainland China either.
Apple refers to this region as China mainland, which we gather does not include the territories controlled by the Republic of China, most notably Taiwan, nor the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau. The EU
The situation for Apple Intelligence in the EU is complex to say the least. As we previously reported, Apple won’t bring Apple Intelligence to the EU because of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a piece of EU legislation designed to protect competition and prevent monopolies.
Apple has begrudgingly adhered to the DMA through EU-exclusive features like app sideloading, without offering the same to the rest of the world.
Apple told us in June that the DMA has created “regulatory uncertanties” that make launching Apple Intelligence in the EU unfeasible:
“…due to the regulatory uncertainties brought about by the Digital Markets Act (DMA), we do not believe that we will be able to roll out […] Apple Intelligence to our EU users this year”
Apple Intelligence will not be available while physically in the EU so long as your Apple ID country/region is also within the EU.
