What’s Going On
Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Union is enforcing stricter rules on “gatekeeper” platforms like Apple. Among multiple mandates, the EU requires Apple to allow default voice assistant choice—meaning Siri can no longer be the enforced default in the EU region.
According to Bloomberg via 9to5Mac, iOS 26 will include a “nuclear option” allowing users to fully replace Siri with alternatives such as Google Assistant, ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, etc.
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🚦 Why the EU Took Action
The EU sees Apple’s ecosystem as overly restrictive—shielding Siri from competition. Voice assistants are central to user interaction and competition in AI. With the DMA, Apple must level the playing field and open up default voice choices.
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👥 What This Means for Users in the EU
• Choice: Users can select a third‑party assistant as default.
• Seamless Integration: No need to invoke Siri to pass requests to AI assistants—your chosen assistant responds directly.
• Limitations: Initially, this may only apply in EU territories, controlled by Apple’s Apple ID region settings and geo‑checks.
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📣 Community Reactions
Reddit user PhaseSlow1913 summarises sentiment:
“If letting me switching from Siri is over regulation of capitalism, please sign me up!”
Other voices note that Siri often falls short and welcome the option for better alternatives.
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⚠️ Apple’s Resistance
Apple has expressed frustration, arguing that forcing interoperability—voice assistants and more—could compromise user privacy and innovation. They’ve appealed the DMA orders as “deeply flawed rules that only target Apple”.
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🛠 How It Might Work Technically
• Default assistant menu: iOS 26 settings could offer a list of registered assistants.
• Invocation handling: Saying “Hey Google…” might wake Google Assistant directly, bypassing Siri, akin to how default navigation/browser apps can already be set in the EU.
• Scope: Initially only for EU‑region Apple IDs and devices located in EU territory, iOS checks region to enforce.
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🌐 Wider Implications
• User empowerment: EU users get genuine freedom to pick services they trust or prefer.
• Competitive pressure: Apple may face calls to expand this globally, potentially shaping Siri’s future development.
• Precedent: This measure joins others—USB‑C, third‑party browsers, payment apps—as part of the EU’s push to open Apple’s closed ecosystem.
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✅ Bottom Line
The EU is compelling Apple to allow Siri alternatives as default in its region—part of a larger push to loosen Apple’s control over its platform. iOS 26 is expected to bring the capability to the EU, letting users choose from Google Assistant to ChatGPT and beyond. Apple is pushing back, but this change marks a major shift in how smartphone voice assistants may be governed—starting in Europe.