Apple Intelligence on iPhone 16 has the highest chance of coming to China
While European iPhone 16 buyers are unlikely to see all of the Apple Intelligence features supported there anytime soon, Chinese fans have the best chance of seeing Apple's version of generative AI released for use after the launch of iOS 18.
According to a local analyst, Apple Intelligence, through Apple's traditional focus on privacy and on-device processing, coupled with the development of its own Large Language Model, “the foreign AI model with the greatest chance of obtaining regulatory approval in the country“, reports the South China Morning Post.
For the iPhone16 In the US, Apple has partnered with OpenAI for its generative AI service ChatGPT and even intends to invest in its next funding round, which is expected to bring a valuation of $100 billion.
In China, however, only local generative AI companies have received approval for their models, and ChatGPT is not commercially available. Rumor has it that Apple will partner with local search giant Baidu for its Ernie LLM, just like Samsung does in China, but that would mean its own AI capabilities would take a back seat there.
Meanwhile, Apple is under growing pressure from local companies like Huawei, which saw a whopping 44% increase in shipments in China while Apple saw a 6% drop. According to Ivan Lam of Counterpoint Research, Apple's “The iPhone will continue to experience erosion in the premium segment due to Huawei and other Chinese brands.”
However, Chinese consumers still view Apple as a prestige brand and have expressed a desire to upgrade from their iPhone 14 Pro Max handsets to the upcoming flagship iPhone 16 Pro Ma, which will offer a larger screen and a faster processor, regardless of whether it will be equipped with Apple Intelligence or not.
A dedicated tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, Daniel has been covering mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he has a keen interest in the future of digital health, vehicle connectivity, and 5G. Outside of his professional activities, Daniel finds balance in traveling, reading, and discovering new tech innovations, all while reflecting on the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
