Apple Chooses Alibaba for AI Features in China

In a strategic move, Apple Inc. has decided to collaborate with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. instead of DeepSeek to enhance artificial intelligence features for iPhones in China, as reported by The Information on Tuesday.

Sources close to the matter revealed that Apple had previously evaluated AI models from several leading Chinese tech giants, including Baidu, Tencent, ByteDance, and Alibaba. The decision to go with Alibaba was influenced by its extensive consumer data, particularly in the realms of e-commerce and payment behaviors, which are crucial for developing sophisticated AI features.

Additionally, this partnership is seen as Apple's effort to align with Chinese regulations that mandate local AI model development. It also reflects Apple's strategy to rejuvenate its sales in the region, which have been experiencing a downturn.