Report: Apple allows alternatives to Siri on EU devices

Apple is planning a major change for users in the European Union. In the future, it will be possible to disable Siri as a voice assistant on iPhones, iPads, and Macs and instead set another solution, such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, as the default. Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett report this in a detailed article at Bloomberg. Apple is responding to regulatory pressure from the EU, particularly new digital market rules.

If you use an Apple device, you're familiar with the current principle: Siri is the default voice assistant; there are no other options. While you've been able to specify alternative apps for certain functions for some time—such as a different browser or messaging app—Apple hasn't been flexible when it comes to voice assistants. That's exactly what's changing now. The EU is forcing major tech companies to make their systems more open. So Apple has to act, and that gives you more choice.

Apple plans to switch to multiple platforms

According to Bloomberg, the planned change affects not only the iPhone, but also the iPad and Mac. Apple is working on making this feature available on multiple software platforms. In practice, this means you'll be able to choose which voice assistant should be used automatically in your device's settings. This will affect things like voice commands, smart home control, or general interactions via voice input. Apple isn't taking this step voluntarily. The company is responding to new EU legal requirements that require companies like Apple to open up their products more and provide more choice for consumers. The company has already had to make adjustments in the past to comply with these requirements. Users in the EU can already set alternative default apps for certain services, such as:

another browser instead of Safari
another messaging app instead of iMessage
another navigation app instead of Apple Maps

With the option to turn off or replace Siri, another area now follows that is forced open.

Background: Apple's problems with AI

The Bloomberg report also puts the planned change into a broader context. Gurman and Bennett describe Apple's lagging behind other companies like Google and Microsoft in the field of artificial intelligence. Siri is considered less powerful and less flexible than its competitors, particularly when it comes to voice assistants. Apple apparently intends to compensate for this lag with several measures – one of which is opening up to alternatives in response to pressure from regulators.

Has AI already overtaken humans?

Siri is no longer a must – at least in the EU

If you use an Apple device in the EU, you'll soon be able to decide for yourself whether you want to continue using Siri or switch to another voice assistant. It's not yet known when this feature will be activated, but it's likely that it will be introduced with a future software update. Apple isn't voluntarily following a new course, but rather implementing regulatory requirements. (Image: Shutterstock / sdx15)