Apple’s recent WWDC showcase unveiled impressive new AI features for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, powered by in-house tech and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. But hold on a sec, Apple fans in China! These features might hit a snag.
Why the Stumble in China?
The culprit? Chinese government regulations. AI models operating in China need a government thumbs-up, and that includes large language models trained on massive amounts of text, images, and videos. This strict vetting aims to keep chatbots in check and prevent them from swaying public opinion.
As of March 2024, only 117 AI products have received China’s green light, and none were developed outside the country. That means Apple Intelligence faces an uphill battle for approval.
Samsung’s Similar Struggle
Look no further than Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series with its suite of AI features called Galaxy AI. Features like Circle to Search, Live Translate, and AI Interpreter are powered by different AI models depending on the region. Here’s the catch: in China, these features powered by Samsung’s own AI or Google’s Gemini AI are simply unavailable.
Samsung, to navigate the Chinese market, had to team up with local players. Baidu came on board for text-related features like Circle to Search and summarization, while Meitu, a photo editing platform, took care of AI photo editing features.
Apple’s catch-up in the AI Race
Apple is already playing catch-up in the AI race. Now, they face the additional challenge of finding a local partner in China to ensure a timely launch of their AI features, keeping pace with the rest of the world. Meanwhile, competitors like Oppo and Huawei are already delivering AI experiences to their Chinese users.
Conclusion
Reports suggest Apple is in talks with Chinese tech giants Baidu, Alibaba, and Baichuan AI to potentially power its AI features in China. Who will they choose? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: Apple’s journey to bring its AI smarts to China promises to be an interesting one to watch.
