Apple and Alibaba: A Strategic AI Partnership in China
In an intriguing move to enhance the capabilities of its devices, Apple has joined forces with Alibaba, a leading Chinese technology firm, to integrate advanced AI functionalities similar to those powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This partnership aims to bolster Apple Intelligence across its product range, including the iPhone. While initial discussions included Baidu as a potential collaborator for Apple’s AI services, the focus has now shifted toward iPhone’s Visual Intelligence.
Compliance with Chinese Laws
Operating within China presents unique challenges, particularly regarding censorship regulations. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the collaboration with Alibaba involves significant modifications to Apple’s AI models to comply with local laws. Specifically, Alibaba will act as a filter, applying necessary content censorship on Apple’s on-device AI functionalities.
“In other words, Apple isn’t working with Alibaba to run its AI models. Alibaba is instead the censorship layer for China, per local laws, on top of Apple’s own models, ”Gurman wrote.
Government Oversight and Data Management
This arrangement permits the Chinese government to request alterations via Alibaba, enabling them to adjust or limit the information accessible to users at any time. Moreover, Chinese legislation mandates that cloud-based data must be stored and processed domestically, underscoring the importance of local infrastructure in compliance.
Implementation and Features of Apple Intelligence
Apple is set to deploy its AI functionalities in China by mid-2023. An update is anticipated around May, which will activate Apple Intelligence capabilities specifically for users in China. It is essential to highlight that this censored iteration of Apple Intelligence will only be available on devices sold within the country.
Initially unveiled as part of the iOS 18 update last year, Apple Intelligence continues to evolve with each software update. The company plans to expand language support, introducing languages such as Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese in subsequent releases.
Options for Users
For users who prefer not to use Apple Intelligence, there is an option to disable the feature, potentially freeing up to 7GB of storage space on their iPhones.
For further details, refer to Bloomberg’s insights via Bloomberg and 9to5Google.
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