Apple Intelligence has a Chinese puzzle
Apple now runs the world’s most extensive network of AI
Apple Intelligence has a challenge in China, where local regulation demand any generative AI services offered there obtain government approval.
That is why Apple is now in talks with Tencent and ByteDance to deploy features from the AI systems belonging to those Chinese firms to its users in that nation.
The idea behind this, at least as I understand it, is that those Chinese GenAI services will be made available in place of ChatGPT in China. That means good integration into Apple’s core products and fills the gap left by the fact that ChatGPT does not have permission to run in China.
At stake is a leadership position in China’s buoyant AI industry, and the move could also help the company stem declining iPhone sales there.
The tactical imperative
Speculation Apple will seek a partner in China has been in circulation since before Apple even introduced Apple Intelligence.
Despite this, reporting claims these discissions are at an early stage, though the definition of early could hang on a lot of challenges, not least ongoing relations between the US and China. Apple had been in discussion with Baidu, but that negotiation hit a wall, in part due to Apple’s desire to limit access to user data, in line with its principles.
Apple is a little hampered by the lack of AI in the tech-savvy nation. Domestic brand Huawei does have AI inside its latest device, and the desire for this kind of intelligence does appear to be cutting through to Chinese consumers.
C/o Reuters
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