Apple is facing significant challenges in China as it pushes its artificial intelligence technology, which is a critical market for the iPhone maker.
Beijing’s strict regulations on AI technology are creating uncertainty for Apple in China, where its market share is being threatened by local competitors such as Huawei.
Apple’s AI initiative, known as Apple Intelligence, aims to integrate AI features across its devices, including an enhanced version of the voice assistant Siri.
While the company announced the rollout of Apple Intelligence in U.S. English this fall, it did not provide details on the product offering in China during its recent AI launch at the developers conference.
Analysts told reporters that China’s strict regulations on AI are likely the reason behind Apple’s efforts to navigate the complex market.
Bryan Ma, vice president of devices research at IDC, explained that China’s regulatory environment presents unique challenges for AI, making it a significant factor in Apple’s recent announcements.
In recent years, Beijing has implemented various regulations focused on data protection and large language models, such as ChatGPT, which are crucial for AI applications.
China’s AI market is subject to heavy regulation, including requirements for approval of commercial use of language models and responsibility for removing “illegal” content by generative AI providers.
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What Are The Challenges Apple Intelligence Is Facing In China?
Apple will face challenges in navigating these regulations. To start with, Apple Intelligence relies on the company’s own language model, operating on both the phone and Apple’s servers.
According to Chinese regulations, Apple would probably need approval from authorities for its AI model.
Additionally, the recent announcement about Siri tapping into OpenAI’s ChatGPT for specific requests is a significant development.
However, since ChatGPT is prohibited in China, Apple will need to seek out a domestic partner that offers a similar solution.
Baidu and Alibaba, two of China’s leading technology companies, have their own LLMs and voice assistants, making them potential partners for Apple.
However, China’s internet is subject to strict censorship, with regulators worried about AI services creating content that contradicts Beijing’s beliefs.
Therefore, Apple will likely need to develop AI models that adhere to local regulations, including an on-device model and a cloud-based model, according to Canalys analyst Nicole Peng.
According to CCS Insight Chief Analyst Ben Wood, for Apple to succeed in China with AI, it is crucial for the company to develop an AI experience tailored to Chinese users on its devices.
Wood mentioned that localizing the Apple Intelligence experience will be a significant hurdle for Apple, as it will require adapting the service to respect the unique customs, regulations, and use cases in China, like with any technology deployment.
What about the privacy after adding ChatGPT to iPhones, iPads, iMacs, and other Apple devices?
During the AI launch, Apple emphasized its commitment to privacy by introducing Private Cloud Compute, a system that processes AI on Apple-owned servers without storing the processed data.
However, there are concerns about whether Apple will have complete control over its servers, as Chinese iCloud data is currently stored on third-party servers in China.
This could potentially lead to criticisms about the level of privacy for Apple’s AI computing servers if a similar partnership is required.
“In the heavily regulated market of China, maintaining complete user privacy in the AI era will present the biggest challenge for Apple,” said Neil Shah, a partner at Counterpoint Research, in an interview with reporters. “It will be difficult for Apple to establish fully controlled private compute servers in China.”
Wood from CCS Insights mentioned that Apple’s emphasis on privacy could potentially pave the way for the introduction of AI features in the market. In 2021, China implemented a significant data protection law aimed at restricting the collection and storage of information.
“Apple’s consistent focus on privacy and security measures may help alleviate concerns from local regulators, and the company has shown a willingness to make compromises when necessary,” Wood added.
“Even though China-based smartphone makers are currently prioritizing AI, Apple is expected to maintain a strong position in the market.”
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