Apple and EU Commission Discuss the Future of Siri AI in Europe

The background to the conflict is the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which obliges Apple as a so-called gatekeeper to open its platforms to competitors. The company presumably fears that some features could potentially trigger penalties in the millions for violations of the EU's core competition rules. Specifically, the DMA requires that third-party providers of AI assistants such as OpenAI or Anthropic receive the same access to device data as Siri AI itself.

Background: The Digital Markets Act

The company described this as "an intermediary that would allow virtual assistants to securely access the same functionalities and capabilities as Siri AI for devices in the EU," as required by the DMA. Apple stated it had proposed an 18-month transition period. This would have allowed it to launch Siri AI directly while the company gradually rolls out the Trusted System Agent. The Trusted System Agent software is intended to act as a buffer between user data and external providers' AI models, without giving them full access to the Apple device.

However, the European Commission rejected this plan. After the meeting, an EU spokesperson said there had been a "constructive exchange on topics of common interest." However, work on these issues still needed to continue. The Financial Times had previously reported that the talks were an attempt to "lower the temperature in this bitter dispute."

Apple's Proposal: Trusted System Agent

Apple, on the other hand, sees responsibility lying with the EU, which is blocking the proposals. "In recent months, EU regulators have not accepted any of the solutions proposed by Apple," Apple stated, "which were intended to introduce Siri AI in the EU while ensuring secure support for other virtual assistants." An anonymous Commission official told the Financial Times that Apple wants to buy time with the proposal.

EU Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier did not accept the accusation and responded publicly just one day later – also because it was necessary to "set the record straight." According to Regnier, Apple was simply unable to develop interoperability solutions that meet the EU's basic data protection and security standards. The Commission emphasizes that the rules must apply to all market participants simultaneously and without special exceptions.

Position of the EU Commission

From the EU officials' perspective, Apple's request for an 18-month transition period is a so-called "regulatory holiday" that would distort competition. The Commission demands that Apple suspend its interoperability obligations during the rollout of the new technology but understands the deadline as a postponement of the DMA obligations overall. Apple, on the other hand, sees the transition period as technically necessary in order to be able to develop and roll out the Trusted System Agent at all.

According to two people familiar with the talks, quoted in the Financial Times, the meeting also addressed how Apple can introduce the revamped Siri in Europe. The new AI Siri is initially planned for users in the United States, not for EU member states. However, Siri AI is supposed to appear in the EU on platforms other than iOS and iPadOS, including macOS, watchOS, and visionOS.

What the meeting also showed: Cook will likely remain personally involved in Apple's global government relations even after his upcoming departure as CEO. The pressure on the company is also high because the US government under Donald Trump has criticized EU digital regulation and threatened countermeasures including tariffs should the EU disadvantage US companies through unfair penalties.

Political Context and Outlook

Shortly after a public statement by Tim Cook that the shortage of memory chips could lead to price increases, prices for MacBooks and Macs noticeably jumped. According to reports, the concept of the Trusted System Agent alone was not sufficient for the EU to allow Apple to introduce Siri AI in Europe.

The conflict between Apple and the EU Commission is likely to shape the discussion on the interpretation of the Digital Markets Act, in which other tech companies also have a strong interest. (Alexander Amon, 1.7.2026)