Apple expands its AI features for China and Europe Union, collaborates with regulators

Apple AI in China EU: During its WWDC 2024 event, Apple has revealed its new AI initiative, which is the Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence is currently available only in US English. However, users in China and the European Union are unable to access these features due to regulatory hurdles. Apple is working closely with regulators in these regions to fix these issues and expand the availability of Apple Intelligence in those regions.

According to reports, Tim Cook (Apple CEO) has addressed questions about the rollout of Apple Intelligence in markets outside the US, including China and the EU. Cook has confirmed that Apple is engaging with regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with local regulations before providing a timeline for more comprehensive access.

Cook emphasised that Apple’s goal is to make Apple Intelligence widely accessible but cited that the company must first address regulatory requirements in China and the EU. In the EU, access to AI features is restricted due to stringent privacy and security regulations. In China, data processing laws require that data be stored on local servers rather than being transmitted internationally.

Currently, users outside the US can only preview Apple Intelligence by setting their device language to US English. Full functionality remains unavailable in China and the EU until regulatory issues are resolved.

Apple Intelligence is set to launch this fall with support for US English, with plans to introduce additional languages and features throughout the next year. Cook did not specify whether these updates would be included in the anticipated iOS 18 update or the expected iOS 19 release, scheduled for 2025.

The Apple Intelligence features will be included at no extra cost with updates to iOS 18 and macOS 15. However, they will require the latest Apple devices, including M1 or newer iPads and Macs, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro. Apple is all set to introduce the new iPhone 16 this September.