Apple introduced new AirPods featuring real-time translation directly through the earbuds, but the feature is blocked for users in Europe due to regulatory concerns.
Why it matters: The move highlights the impact of EU regulations on Apple’s product offerings and the potential limitations European users may face compared to other regions.
The details:
- The live translation feature leverages Apple Intelligence, Apple’s version of AI, to provide translations through AirPods paired with compatible iPhones.
- Apple is blocking the functionality in the EU due to its interpretation of obligations under EU regulations, specifically a European Commission decision from March requiring certain functions to be interoperable with competitor devices.
- Currently, the languages supported for live translation are English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese expected to follow by the end of the year.
Apple executives have previously threatened to block the rollout of services like Apple Intelligence due to its European regulatory obligations.
What they’re saying:
- “I want to be crystal clear on one point: whether on environmental or digital regulation, we set our own standards, we set our own regulations,” said the EU Commission chief on Sep 10.
The European Commission was approached for comment on this development.
What’s next: It remains to be seen how the EU will respond to Apple’s decision and whether further discussions or regulatory changes will take place to address the issue.
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