Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro: A Generative AI Pie Without the European Slice!

Summary

In a thrilling plot twist worthy of a gripping soap opera, Apple has pulled a stunt with its iPhone 16 Pro that has consumers across Europe gasping in disbelief! It’s like finding out your favorite ice cream parlor has decided to only serve vanilla in your town—yawn! Starting September 17, with the grand debut of the sparkly iPhone 16 lineup, Apple seemed to be all set for a phone party. But wait! Tim Cook and the gang just couldn’t resist kicking off the festivities with a resounding “Sorry, Europe! No generative AI for you!” Thanks to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which sounds like something you’d hear at a really boring dinner party, Apple has opted to keep its cool Apple Intelligence suite tucked away—like a teenager hiding their video games from their little brother. They’ll do this until the bigwigs clarify the rules, leaving iPhone users on the continent feeling like they were invited to a party but left standing outside after the door was locked. While Apple’s been seeing steady sales of over 56 million iPhones a year in Europe, they’re about to feel the sting. Sure, they might continue selling iPhones like hotcakes (with only a few crumbs lost) now, but when the generative AI goodies finally roll out, they’ll only sing in a handful of languages and will be fashionably late until March 2025 (talk about a long wait!). Just when you thought that was enough drama, enter stage left Mark Gurman, the tech soothsayer, who dropped some juicy pre-order news! Overall interest in the iPhone 16 family is down about 12.5% from last year—a bit like trying to sell ice to an Eskimo when everyone suddenly decides to go vegan! Kuo, another tech oracle, pointed fingers at Apple’s AI snub as a major culprit for the slow pre-order train. It’s like going to a steakhouse and realizing they’re out of steak—no thanks! Meanwhile, other AI wizards over at Google and Samsung are brewing up their sorcery, hogging all the cool data and rolling out updates faster than a school kid on Christmas morning. But Apple? Well, they’ve decided to keep the EU users in a digital desert while hopping around the AI yard like a kid who might lose its lunch money. The folks in the EU are practically waving “Come on, Apple!” flags, hoping for a taste of generative AI while Apple keeps playing coy, saying, “We’re still figuring things out, just like when you’re at a buffet and can’t decide between pizza or sushi!” Maybe someday they’ll work together, but until then, those across the pond will be watching their buddies in the States indulge in all the AI yumminess. So, if you’re an iPhone aficionado in Europe, cuddle up to your old iPhone—who needs new features when you’ve got nostalgia, right? Apple’s made it clear: when it comes to generative AI, Europe is sadly off the menu! Now, how about that latest iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch buzz? Time to catch up and watch the chipmunks take selfies—who said tech news couldn’t be fun?

Original Source: www.forbes.com