Apple holds talks with Chinese companies on AI

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is actively looking for a Chinese company to partner with for its AI functions in China. Apple has held talks with Baidu, Alibaba Group, and Beijing-based startup Baichuan AI, but no agreement was reached.

Here's What We Know

After the launch of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia this autumn, Apple Intelligence features will be available to more and more customers. Apple has stated that it will provide these features not only in the US but also in the European Union. Without a deal with a Chinese AI company, Apple Intelligence may not be available in China.

China requires companies to obtain government approval before deploying chatbots based on large language models, and no AI products developed outside the country have been approved so far.

Apple considered seeking approval for its own big language model, but found that Chinese regulators were unlikely to allow it. In order to introduce Apple Intelligence features in China, Apple needs to sign an agreement with a Chinese AI company.

It is unclear whether Apple will have time to prepare a Chinese version of Apple Intelligence by September, and even if it were to conclude a deal in the near future, Apple Intelligence is unlikely to be introduced in China. Even if Apple did, Apple Intelligence would be available only in US English at launch, with support for additional languages coming in 2025.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is lagging behind rival smartphone makers in China, as AI features are already available on devices from top-selling Chinese brands such as Vivo, Huawei, Xiaomi, and Honor. Even Samsung has a smartphone with AI integration in China as it has partnered with Baidu and Meitu.

Source: The Wall Street Journal