An Apple Intelligence launch in China doesn't look too close as the company continues forced partnership talks with local companies.
Apple reportedly wanted to use its own generative AI models in China, but that would require government approval, which — it was strongly implied — won't happen …
AI systems in China require government approval
Apple can't just build a Chinese version of Apple Intelligence as the government requires all AI systems to be will be submitted for approval – and we have already noted earlier that the reason for this is obvious.
The Chinese government has a tight grip on the country's online information sources. Google pulled out of the country after being forced to censor its search results, and many other Western platforms are blocked by the Great Firewall, including Facebook, X, and Wikipedia. Many search terms are also blocked when using the local search engine Baidu.
AI products, of course, provide another means of efficiently performing web searches, and it's clear that the government wants to be able to control them as well, effectively forcing foreign companies to use approved Chinese models.
The government has made its position clear
The Chinese government has effectively told Apple that it will not be allowed to launch Apple Intelligence in the country unless it partners with pre-approved local companies.
A top government official has warned that launching Apple Intelligence in China will be a “difficult and lengthy process” unless the iPhone maker partners with a local AI company. Working with a Chinese company instead would be “easy and straightforward.”
Baidu was said to be one of the companies chosen by Apple, but the two sides have reportedly clashed over both technical and privacy issues.
Baidu reportedly wants to store the data of iPhone users who perform AI-powered searches, which is the complete opposite of how Apple Intelligence and Private Cloud Compute are designed.
Apple Now Talking to Tencent, Bytedance
Reuters reports that Apple is also in talks with two other Chinese tech giants about using their AI models.
Apple is in talks with Tencent and TikTok owner ByteDance to integrate their AI models into iPhones sold in China, three reports sources familiar with the matter.
So far, however, little progress appears to have been made.
Apple's discussions with Tencent and ByteDance about using their AI models are at a very early stage, said the sources, who declined to be identified because the talks are not public.
We previously argued that while it would be nice to imagine Apple sticking to its privacy principles, the reality is that it has no choice but to partner with local companies that apply very different standards.
Photo by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash
