Apple is facing a “difficult and long process” for Apple Intelligence approval in China. Regulators in the country caution that foreign firms like Apple will fair better if they partner with local firms, according to a new Financial Times report.
A senior official at the Cyberspace Administration of China told the Times that foreign device makers would find a “simple and straightforward approval process” if they use already-approved large language models (LLMs) from Chinese companies, rather than attempting to use their own AI systems.
This has led Apple to sit down with several Chinese tech companies, including ByteDance, search giant Baidu, and AI startup Moonshot. The discussions have involved using those firms’ feature to power Apple Intelligence inside Chinese borders.
Apple CEO Tim Cook traveled to China, and on Monday attended a “CEO Summit” with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, in what is viewed as an attempt by Cook to bring a personal touch to navigating the complex Chinese regulatory landscape.
JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee notes that the regulatory hurdles faced by Apple could delay the launch of Apple Intelligence in China until “well into the second half of 2025” or later. The process could likely be expedited by Apple’s involving multiple Chinese partnerships.