Apple Blocks AirPods Live Translation Feature for EU Users Due to Regulatory Compliance Issues
By
thm
Sesame, salt, and substance. A flagship bake.
Summary
Apple's new Live Translation feature for AirPods will not be available to European users who are physically located in the EU and have EU-region Apple accounts when it launches next week. The restriction appears to be due to strict EU regulations, particularly the Artificial Intelligence Act, which imposes compliance requirements that Apple may not be ready to meet. This affects millions of users across the 27 EU member states.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledApple's new Live Translation feature for AirPods will be off-limits to millions of European users when it arrives next week
"Apple Intelligence: Live Translation with AirPods" won't be available if both the user is physically in the EU and their Apple Account region is in the EU
Apple doesn't give a reason for the restriction, but legal and regulatory pressures seem the most plausible culprits
In particular, the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act likely imposes compliance requirements that Apple isn't ready to meet
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