Meta Blocks Apple Intelligence in iOS Apps (9to5mac.com) 22
Meta has disabled Apple Intelligence features across its iOS applications, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Threads, according to Brazilian tech blog Sorcererhat Tech. The block affects Writing Tools, which enable text creation and editing via Apple's AI, as well as Genmoji generation. Users cannot access these features via the standard text field interface in Meta apps. Instagram Stories have also lost previously available keyboard stickers and Memoji functionality.
While Meta hasn't explained the decision, it likely aims to drive users toward Meta AI, its own artificial intelligence service that offers similar text and image generation capabilities. The move follows failed negotiations between Apple and Meta regarding Llama integration into Apple Intelligence, which reportedly collapsed over privacy disagreements. The companies also maintain ongoing disputes regarding App Store policies.
While Meta hasn't explained the decision, it likely aims to drive users toward Meta AI, its own artificial intelligence service that offers similar text and image generation capabilities. The move follows failed negotiations between Apple and Meta regarding Llama integration into Apple Intelligence, which reportedly collapsed over privacy disagreements. The companies also maintain ongoing disputes regarding App Store policies.
Meta can't win (Score:4, Insightful)
Apple controls iOS. If they want their OS to have access to a text field in an app on their device... they're going to get it or the app will get blocked.
And honestly, if Apple and Facebook go head-to-head, do you really see Apple fans dumping their iPhones for Mark?
Re: (Score:2)
Apple can just allow it's customers to turn it back on. Perhaps, with a warning that it was turned off by any app that does so.
It's good to be the king or the sole provider of an operating system or AI.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Apple is worth about twice as much as Meta. If it comes down to bribing Donnie, I think Apple's in the best position. There's a reason Apple got exemptions from his tariff war with China.
Re: (Score:2)
Also, people actually like Apple.
Are there people out there with devotion to the Meta brand, or just reluctant users because they went out and bought all the meaningful competition up?
Re: (Score:1)
Are there people out there with devotion to the Meta brand
There are certainly people out there with devotion to feceboot. We know that because we've tried to pry them off of the platform and get them onto alternatives and they refuse. I'm still there because there are whole communities of people who wouldn't switch that I want access to, like the Skoolie groups.
Re: (Score:2)
You'd be surprised how cheap it is to bribe some of these people. You don't even have to bribe the Fuhrer himself - he's installed subordinate bribe-takers at all levels of government. Sleaze, and an affinity for anilingus, are what qualify you to board the Trump Train.
Funds aren't the only thing they are after either. The administration has convinced Google, for example, to prominently place the official propaganda line from whitehouse.gov under every story on Google News. Seriously, look at it. For those
Re:Meta can't win (Score:4, Interesting)
Apple currently has a bad time, because they need to allow such things because of the DMA. Currently Opera is suing them to allow it as custom engine instead of just as default browser. Deepl got the option to be the default translation app. Apple has no chance if they don't want to get sued.
Re: (Score:2)
Except that Apple could intercept the "key stroke" before it ever gets to the Meta App, and then re-issue the "key strokes" as modified by its software.
If Apple really wants to, it can win. Does it want to badly enough to go through the effort?
Apple controls the user interface. It also controls the compute. It has to win if it really wants to do so. But the cost might be more that it's worth.
Re: (Score:2)
What does it matter if Apple patches the API or intercept keystrokes, when they are sued for the effect of it?
The court does not care about how they technically force things on the competition. It cares about if some law like the DMA says the are not allowed to force it into other companies apps. And the point of DMA is, that the "But it's our operation system we can do what we want" no longer applies.
Re: (Score:2)
If what they do is offer a capability to the user, rather than requiring compliance, the suit would probably be unsuccessful.
Antitrust (Score:3)
I am certain this will help them in their antitrust case /s
Re:Antitrust (Score:4, Insightful)
I am certain this will help them in their antitrust case /s
I'm not sure why you're talking sarcasm here. This is by definition competition. Apple has provided an API that allows Apple Intelligence to be turned off in an app, and Meta is using it. No one is forcing another company to do anything, which is what anti-trust is about.
Re: Antitrust (Score:2)
Meta is making the decision for users, which is what antitrust is about.
Of course, Apple shouldn't be making it either, so there are no heroes in this story, only victims (the users.)
Re: (Score:2)
Meta is making the decision for users, which is what antitrust is about.
Of course, Apple shouldn't be making it either, so there are no heroes in this story, only victims (the users.)
No it's not. Antitrust is about unfairly restricting users access to other things. Literally every software by necessity needs to make decisions for users. There's no expectation for Apple's AI to be in Meta's product.
I agree there's no heros, but this objectively isn't an antitrust violation. Antitrust considers the limitations on other's businesses, not fundamentally the limitation on users. E.g. Internet explorer being included in Windows never prevented anyone from installing Netscape Navigator. The ant
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Meta is making the decision for users, which is what antitrust is about.
No it's not. Antitrust is about unfairly restricting users access to other things.
I wish you could see my face right now, because then I wouldn't have to type what the fuck.
Re:Antitrust (Score:4, Interesting)
I am certain this will help them in their antitrust case /s
I'm not sure why you're talking sarcasm here. This is by definition competition. Apple has provided an API that allows Apple Intelligence to be turned off in an app, and Meta is using it. No one is forcing another company to do anything, which is what anti-trust is about.
Meta isn't forcing another company to do anything, but they are forcing consumers. "Competition" would be giving users the ability to choose which AI suite they want to use.
That's not to say it wouldn't be off-the-charts hypocritical for Apple to complain about someone else placing restrictions on what third party tools can be used in their ecosystem.
Re: (Score:2)
Consumers are not the consideration. You as a user of Meta's software have no expectation to do something outside of Meta's ecosystem. That isn't an anti-trust issue. You may not like it, but literally EVERYTHING YOU DO is somehow decided or defined for your in the way software is written.
"Competition" would be giving users the ability to choose which AI suite they want to use.
Users have this. Meta can't block Apple from being used (and doing so would be an antitrust violation). Fire up an Apple app, write what you want and copy / paste it. Or better still stop using Meta's products if you don't
I don't care (Score:2)
'cos I don't want to use either.
Re: (Score:3)
In the times I want to doomscroll on Android while waiting for a train, I open the Firefox app. I don't need a specific app for a particular mobile webpage.
Why would anyone think I desired an app for Facebook running in the background 24/7 with AI busily crafting notifications for ads via 'influencers' I have no connection to?
Maybe it is about privacy (Score:1)
(Of course, I realize that talking about privacy and Facebook in the same paragraph is already hilarious!)