Since there's a lot of drama surrounding Siri AI, DMA, and the EU right now, here's a summary.
Apple is currently holding back Siri AI within the EU because the company is a designated gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act. For roughly 18 months, Apple has been trying to find a way to bring the new Siri AI to Europe while complying with DMA rules.
Apple proposed a solution called the „Trusted System Agent“. An intermediary layer that would allow 3rd party virtual assistants to safely access similar system features and capabilities as Siri AI, without giving them direct access to sensitive user data. In addition, Apple offered to introduce Siri AI gradually in the EU over an 18month phased rollout while implementing this new architecture.
However, the European Commission rejected all of Apple’s proposals. The Commission did not accept the Trusted System Agent concept nor the idea of a gradual rollout. As a result, Apple has taken a very cautious approach, which is one of the main reasons why the full version of the new Siri AI experience is still not available on iPhones in the EU.
Google chose a different strategy with Gemini on Android. The company rolled out deep system integration on Pixel devices early, giving Gemini privileged access to features such as always-on voice activation, on-device processing with Gemini Nano, screen context awareness, and hardware acceleration.
Because Google is also a DMA gatekeeper for Android, this approach triggered regulatory proceedings. In January 2026, the European Commission opened specification proceedings under Article 6(7) of the DMA, requiring Google to open up the same Android capabilities that Gemini uses to 3rd party AI developers. These proceedings are still ongoing, with a final decision expected around July 2026.
Due to this regulatory pressure, several Gemini features that work fully on Pixel phones in the United States remain limited or unavailable in the EU. These include Pixel Studio for advanced AI image editing and generation, Pixel Screenshot tools, full Gemini-powered Call Notes and summaries, advanced visual Gemini Live with screen and camera understanding, and certain proactive on-device AI features that rely on deep system integration.