Apple is reportedly in discussions with Tencent and ByteDance (the owner of TikTok) to incorporate their artificial intelligence (AI) models into iPhones sold in China. This information comes from three unnamed sources familiar with the situation.
Apple’s Global AI Rollout
Earlier this month, Apple started integrating OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its devices as part of its new “Apple Intelligence” product. This allows Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, to leverage ChatGPT for answering user queries, including photo analysis and document assistance like creating presentations.
AI Restrictions in China
ChatGPT is unavailable in China due to regulatory requirements. Chinese laws mandate that generative AI services must receive government approval before being released to the public. This restriction has led Apple to seek local AI partners to ensure compliance and address the decline in its market share in China.
Current Status of Talks
Apple’s discussions with Tencent and ByteDance are in the very early stages, according to the sources. These talks are confidential, and the parties involved have not disclosed them publicly.
Responses from Companies
When asked for comments, ByteDance declined to respond. Apple and Tencent have not yet replied to requests for clarification.
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