Apple’s Anti-AI Position Suddenly Becomes Stock Market Baggage

In the United States on 18 August 2026, Apple was in the news for changes to its App Store rules in the European Union. Bloomberg and Reuters reported that Apple lowered and changed its fees for alternative app stores in the EU to settle a dispute with the EU. EurActiv said Apple simplified fees and terms, and TechCrunch said it loosened rules for alternative app stores. Handelsblatt reported that Apple fears a multibillion-euro EU fine under the Digital Markets Act and is adapting its business model. Der Standard reported that Apple also changed its tracking rules for app providers.

The Financial Times reported that Apple's services business, worth $100bn, is starting to feel the cost of antitrust action. Bloomberg reported that Apple's position against AI has become a burden for its stock. Separately, a leaked video of AirPods with a built-in camera appeared, reportedly contained in a new macOS update, according to TechCrunch and The Verge.