Tim Cook held a virtual meeting with Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, to discuss Apple’s blocked launch of Siri AI in the EU alongside iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. The meeting came three weeks after WWDC 2026 and just weeks before Cook steps down as CEO on September 1, underscoring Apple’s determination to resolve a regulatory standoff that has now prevented one of the company’s centerpiece features from reaching hundreds of millions of European users.
An EU spokesperson characterized the exchange as “a constructive exchange on topics of common interest, on which the work continues.” No concrete progress or timeline for Siri AI availability in Europe was announced. Apple had proposed two solutions: a “Trusted System Agent” as an intermediary layer allowing third-party assistants to operate within defined boundaries, and an 18-month transition period to launch Siri AI while implementing the intermediary solution. The European Commission rejected both proposals outright.
The core dispute centers on how deeply third-party AI assistants must access user data and control app functionality under the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Apple argues that regulators would require it to grant competing virtual assistants nearly unlimited access to private messages, files, and purchase capabilities, with insufficient protections against misuse. Under Apple’s interpretation, any AI system would need broad authority to read and send messages, access files, make purchases, and execute actions across apps with minimal ongoing user consent. The European Commission counters that Apple has failed to develop interoperability solutions meeting EU privacy and security standards and instead requested a blanket exemption from its legal obligations under the DMA.
Siri AI was the centerpiece of the Apple Intelligence announcement at WWDC 2026, and its absence from the EU release represents a significant setback for the company’s ability to position advanced AI as the defining capability of this year’s software releases. The EU accounts for roughly 15 percent of Apple’s installed base, meaning the delay affects hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPads.
Cook’s direct involvement also signals how he plans to operate as Apple’s chairman after the incoming CEO takes the role next month, handling high-stakes government relations work in regions where Apple’s business intersects with complex regulatory environments like the EU. The meeting’s framing as “constructive” by both sides suggests ongoing talks will continue, though neither party has indicated what a workable compromise might look like. The fall release window for iOS 27 is approaching, and Apple has not announced any revised timeline for European Siri AI availability.
