Apple looking inside China for AI providers to sidestep regulatory issues

Posted:
in iPhone

Apple may need to navigate the business and regulatory waters in China with a local AI provider, and Baidu may have the technology it needs.

A Siri icon superimposed on Apple Park
A Siri icon superimposed on Apple Park



Apple has a very large artificial intelligence division, that has been led by ex-Googler John Gianndrea for years. Recently, Apple has been tied to Google as a potential partner for technology -- but that may not suit the Chinese market.

A report on Friday by the Wall Street Journal claims that Apple is continuing to look for partners in generative AI technologies. The latest partner is said to be China's Baidu, in part to ease regulatory issues in one of Apple's largest markets.

The report notes that Baidu has rolled out more than 40 generative AI models, all approved under new regulations in the country. Notably, the Chinese government has not authorized any models made by companies based in other countries, like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

Discussions with Baidu are said to be in the early stages, and details in the report are very light. It's also unclear if Apple has started talking with other vendors in the country.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has promised some big releases of AI technology in Apple products coming in 2024.

"As we look ahead, we will continue to invest in these and other technologies that will shape the future that includes artificial intelligence, where we continue to spend a tremendous amount of time and effort and we're excited to share the details of our ongoing work in that space later this year," Cook said during the January earnings announcement covering the 2023 holiday period.

"Our MO, if you will, has always been to to do work and then talk about work, and not to get out in front of ourselves and so we're going to hold that to this as well," Cook continued. "But we have got some things that we're incredibly excited about, that we'll be talking about later this year."

Apple's 2024 WWDC is expected to start this discussion in earnest.



Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    9secondkox29secondkox2 Posts: 3,107member
    Ai providers? Isn’t that supposed to be Apple? So we re supposed to believe companies run by people like SBF are capable of providing an, but Apple isn’t and needs to rely on others? Or is this meaning data center/server farm usage? 

    We already know China wants all the data. They already have it with Apple iCloud, messaging, etc. already. 

    Like tik Tok. But ai. 

    Would be great if apple had a leg to stand on in order to stand up to frenemies like China and th eu, but it’s own country is too concerned with cutting the remaining leg off. 

    It’s like the poor kid with a horrible father. Gets beat up at school then comes home to tell his dad what happened, hoping for understanding sand protection, only to hear “you crying? I’ll give you something to cry about!” Then gets mistreated again. Watching this scenario play out in real time with the US government and Apple. 
    edited March 23
  • Reply 2 of 6
    Tim really loves China. 
    grandact73
  • Reply 3 of 6
    Tim really loves China. 

    Which is really weird to me, given their official stance on his orientation.

    Note: this is NOT a comment on Cook's orientation, but rather on China's attitude towards it.  The former is of no interest to anyone but him, but the former is mighty concerning.
  • Reply 4 of 6
    auxioauxio Posts: 2,760member
    Tim really loves China. 
    Given that it's Chinese regulation driving this, it's not specific to Apple. Everyone will have to fall in line or risk not being able to sell in China.
  • Reply 5 of 6
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,623member
    auxio said:
    Tim really loves China. 
    Given that it's Chinese regulation driving this, it's not specific to Apple. Everyone will have to fall in line or risk not being able to sell in China.
    It won't affect Google Android. They still won't be selling products in China ;)

    Microsoft, for their part, is debating whether to close their AI labs in China altogether. with concerns over security as well as lab projects making their way into Chinese military products.  Some number of the China researchers have recently been moved to a similar facility in Canada. 
    tmay
  • Reply 6 of 6
    auxioauxio Posts: 2,760member
    gatorguy said:
    auxio said:
    Tim really loves China. 
    Given that it's Chinese regulation driving this, it's not specific to Apple. Everyone will have to fall in line or risk not being able to sell in China.
    It won't affect Google Android. They still won't be selling products in China ;)
    You should go into politics with spin like that. ;) By the same logic, Apple won't be selling iOS in China either.
    edited March 25 gatorguy
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