Siri AI Blocked in Europe: Tim Cook Negotiates Directly with Brussels

Tim Cook Takes the Lead for Siri AI in Europe

Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, recently took the initiative to speak directly with Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of the European Commission. This meeting, which took place via videoconference, aimed to break the deadlock surrounding the launch of Siri AI in Europe. Since the announcement of Siri AI at WWDC 2026, Apple and the European Commission have been at odds, particularly due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulation that the Cupertino firm views as a barrier to introducing its new voice assistant in the European Union.

A Standoff Over the Digital Markets Act

During Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, the company revealed that Siri AI, an advanced version of its voice assistant, would not be available in Europe with the new updates for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. Apple attributed this decision to the restrictions imposed by the Digital Markets Act. In a statement, the company said it had proposed several solutions to European regulators, including a system called Trusted System Agent. This system would have allowed other virtual assistants to securely access Siri AI's features. Apple also suggested an 18-month transition period, but according to the company, these proposals were rejected by the European Commission.

In response, Thomas Regnier, a spokesperson for the Commission, stated that the DMA did not prevent Apple from launching new products in Europe. He emphasized that the company had failed to develop interoperability solutions that comply with European privacy and security standards. This impasse has left European users uncertain about the future availability of Siri AI.

Tim Cook Personally Engages in Discussions

According to the Financial Times, Tim Cook held a virtual meeting with Henna Virkkunen to discuss how Apple could introduce Siri AI in Europe without violating EU competition rules. A European spokesperson described this exchange as constructive, addressing topics of mutual interest that still require further discussion.

Sources close to the matter indicated that the meeting focused on ways to avoid potential financial penalties for Apple. Cook's direct involvement in the negotiations reflects his commitment to maintaining strong relationships with governments, even after his eventual departure from Apple's leadership. Recently, he also addressed the issue of the global shortage of RAM in an interview, perceived as an attempt to influence the U.S. administration regarding Chinese suppliers.

Although the details of the progress made during this exchange with Brussels are still unclear, Cook's personal commitment suggests that Apple may be more determined to resolve this situation than its initial communications implied. Siri AI is a central element of Apple's software strategy for the coming year, and its deployment in Europe is crucial for the company.