Apple’s plan to bring its artificial intelligence (AI) features, known as Apple Intelligence, on iPhones and other products in China is facing regulatory hurdles, a report has said, adding that the process can be comparatively “simple and straightforward” if the company partners with a local AI company.
According to a report by The Financial Times, a high-ranking Chinese official said that foreign companies like Apple will face a “difficult and long process” to win approval to operate their own AI models in China. The report cites a high-ranking official at the Cyberspace Administration of China, the top Chinese tech regulator, as saying.
How Apple can release AI features in China
Apple recently launched a bunch of AI features such as revamped Siri, writing tools, photo editing, among others, in the US. The company is using a mixture of on-device processing and Apple’s cloud servers as well as tech developed by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI to handle complex queries.
If Apple is not approved to use its own models in China, it will have to strike partnerships with Chinese partners to power all generative AI features in phones sold in the country.
Apple has reportedly engaged in discussions with several Chinese tech giants, including Baidu, ByteDance, and Moonshot, to power its AI features in China. This collaboration would allow Apple to offer AI capabilities in the Chinese market while complying with local regulations.
The report also notes that with its rollout in China faces uncertainty, the regulatory process could delay the launch until late 2025 or beyond.
What this means for Apple
China is a crucial market for Apple, however, sales have declined recently due to various factors, including government restrictions and rising competition from domestic players like Huawei. A successful launch of Apple Intelligence in China is vital for the company to maintain its market share.