During his visit to China, Apple CEO Tim Cook praised DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence models, calling them excellent. This statement was made at the China Development Forum in Beijing, just before Apple’s developer conference in Shanghai. The conference is expected to reveal details about Apple Intelligence, which is pending final approval for integration into iPhones in China. Cook acknowledged that DeepSeek’s recent AI model launch had caused a drop in tech stocks, as it demonstrated performance on par with U.S. competitors while using fewer Nvidia chips. He expressed support for innovation that enhances efficiency. Additionally, Alibaba’s chair mentioned a partnership with Apple to incorporate AI into iPhones for the Chinese market. Apple’s iPhone sales had declined partly due to a lack of AI features compared to local competitors like Huawei. The company is actively seeking partnerships in China to enhance its AI offerings. Approval from the Chinese government is required for launching generative AI products. The mixed reception of Apple’s iPhone 16 series was attributed in part to the absence of Apple Intelligence at its launch.
