Apple Delays AI Features for iPhones in China Over Technical and Privacy Issues

Apple’s plans to introduce its Apple Intelligence AI features to iPhones in China have hit significant obstacles, delaying the rollout in the region.

According to reports, the company has struggled to optimize Baidu’s advanced large language model (LLM), Ernie 4.0, for seamless integration with iPhones. Challenges include difficulty in understanding user prompts and providing accurate responses in routine interactions.

Initially, Apple announced its latest AI features would debut with the iPhone 16 launch in October through the iOS 18.1 update. However, a subsequent update confirmed delays in China and Europe, leaving users in these regions disappointed.

Another hurdle lies in data privacy. Apple’s strict privacy policies prohibit collecting user data for AI queries, conflicting with Baidu’s approach of saving user data for analysis and AI improvement. This discrepancy presents a challenge for integrating Ernie 4.0, which relies heavily on data collection for enhanced performance.

Ernie 4.0, Baidu’s most advanced LLM, plays a central role in Apple’s vision for generative AI across its product range, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This AI system is also intended to enhance Siri’s functionality, further advancing its capabilities.

Despite these challenges, Apple remains committed to embedding AI in its products. However, the timeline for introducing these features in China remains uncertain due to the technical and privacy concerns.

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