Apple may use Baidu AI tech for devices in China: integration in iOS 18

Sources say that Apple is looking for a local generative AI provider in China, and that Apple has discussed using Baidu's AI technology in its devices in China.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has been in talks with Baidu to license its models. This could be an attempt to supply Apple customers in China with their AI needs, as Chinese law requires large models to be approved by its regulators before they are allowed to be used.

So far, the country's regulators have approved more than 40 models, including Baidu's Wenshin Yiyin.

Earlier this week, news broke that Apple was in talks with Google to license its Gemini model for use in powering some of the generative AI features in the upcoming iOS 18 release. Apple is also said to be talking to OpenAI about a possible deal.

As of now, Apple is not believed to have struck a deal with any generative AI provider. Negotiations are ongoing and could be finalized before WWDC in June.

iOS 18 is expected to include a number of features on the AI front, with some tasks being processed on the device while others are passed on to back-end models running in the cloud.

It's not just Apple, Samsung has already entered into a partnership with Baidu. At the previous launch of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series in China, Xu Yuanmo, vice president of user experience strategy of Samsung Electronics Greater China, and Chen Yifan, vice president of Baidu, announced that Samsung China and Baidu Intelligent Cloud had officially formed a strategic AI ecological partner.

Samsung S24 series of Galaxy AI deep integration of Baidu Wenxin large model of a number of capabilities, not only can provide end-side empowerment of the call, translation functions, but also to bring the user a new intelligent summary, typography and other generative AI experience.