EU's tech chief and Tim Cook engage in 'constructive' discussions as Siri AI remains restricted in Europe.

      Apple CEO Tim Cook and the European Union’s technology chief held a video call on Monday, with both parties describing the discussion as “constructive.” This term carries significant meaning.

      Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, responsible for the EU's digital regulations, met with Cook on June 30. An EU representative noted that they had a “constructive exchange on topics of mutual interest, on which work is ongoing.”

      Details of any agreements reached were not disclosed, implying that little was settled. The focus of their discussion was Siri AI, Apple’s revamped voice assistant, and whether it could launch in Europe without violating the Digital Markets Act. Apple has already announced that the feature will not be available on iPhone or iPad in the EU when iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are released later this year.

      This decision, first mentioned in June, leaves European users without access to the assistant on the devices they use most frequently. Apple attributes this delay to the Commission's actions, claiming regulators rejected all its proposals over several months aimed at delivering Siri AI to Europe while ensuring it did not disadvantage competing assistants.

      Conversely, the Commission argues that Apple has not been able to create the necessary interoperability to comply with the bloc’s privacy and security requirements. Both perspectives may hold validity, contributing to the ongoing impasse.

      The core issue revolves around the extent of the DMA’s interoperability requirements. Apple contends that the Commission’s interpretation would obligate it to give third-party assistants the same level of access to device features that Siri AI currently has, including the ability to read and send messages, make purchases, and interact with installed applications. The company warns that limiting these permissions for competitors could endanger users, and states that the Commission has not accepted its proposed safeguards. In contrast, Brussels believes that such access is precisely what the law aims to achieve by challenging gatekeeper platforms.

      This restriction is applicable only to iOS and iPadOS, the two systems designated by the DMA. EU users will still have access to Siri AI on macOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27. The outcome of Monday’s call did not alter this situation.

      Apple has yet to commit to a timeline for offering the assistant on European iPhones, and the Commission has not indicated any shift in its stance. The public record shows that the meeting led to an agreement to continue discussions.

      The timing of the call is significant as Cook prepares to step down as Apple’s CEO, with hardware lead John Ternus anticipated to succeed him, and a great deal of Cook’s ongoing value to the company has been his role as a senior liaison with the government. A friendly conclusion with Brussels aligns with this function.

      The dispute arises as the Commission tightens its control in general, having compelled Google to open Android to differing assistants under the same law. Thus, Apple is not being specifically targeted, even if it might feel that way in Cupertino.

      The overall relationship is far from amicable. The Commission has imposed a €500 million fine on Apple regarding App Store steering rules, and the company remains under scrutiny across multiple DMA initiatives. Against this backdrop, the video call appears less like a breakthrough and more as a means for both parties to maintain a challenging communication line.

      What was not achieved on Monday was any tangible outcome for European iPhone users. Siri AI remains unavailable on the devices that are most common in the bloc, with the two sides only agreeing to further discussions. Whether subsequent meetings yield more than just terminology remains uncertain. For the time being, the assistant remains on the opposite side of a regulatory boundary that neither Apple nor Brussels seems prepared to adjust, leaving the “constructive” label over a standoff that has not advanced.