Report: Apple trained a custom AI model for China with Alibaba

In short: A report says Apple trained its own AI model for China, with support from Alibaba, ahead of launching Apple Intelligence in the country.

What happened

Reuters reported that Apple developed a China-focused “large language model,” which is the kind of AI that can write and summarize text (like an autocomplete that can also hold a conversation). The work was done in partnership with Alibaba, according to three unnamed people familiar with the project.

This would be a change from how Apple has handled AI in China before. The report says Apple previously relied on Chinese companies’ AI models for iPhones sold there, because some US AI services it uses elsewhere, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, are not available in China.

The timing matters because Apple is preparing to roll out Apple Intelligence in China. According to Reuters, the launch is expected in the coming months after an update to iOS, Apple’s iPhone software. The Verge notes that Apple registered Apple Intelligence with China’s cyberspace regulator last month, which is an important step because AI systems must be approved by the government in China before they can be released to the public.

Apple did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

Why it matters

For iPhone owners in China, this could affect when and how Apple’s new AI features arrive, and what they can do on the device. For Apple, training its own model could mean more control over the experience, instead of depending on another company’s tools. It also shows how global tech companies may need country-specific versions of AI, a bit like making a special edition of a product to meet local rules.

Source: The Verge AI