During his visit to Beijing for the China Development Forum, Apple CEO Tim Cook praised DeepSeek’s AI models, calling them “excellent.” His remarks come as Apple prepares to host its developer conference in Shanghai, where the company is expected to share updates on Apple Intelligence with Chinese developers. Apple is still awaiting final approval to introduce its AI-powered features to iPhones in China, a crucial step in maintaining competitiveness in the region.
DeepSeek made headlines in January when it launched a new AI model, claiming performance comparable to U.S. rivals while using fewer Nvidia chips. This development caused a stir in the market, leading to declines in tech stocks. During Apple’s earnings call that same month, Cook acknowledged DeepSeek’s innovation, stating that efficiency-driven advancements are beneficial to the industry.
Apple has been actively pursuing partnerships in China to integrate AI into its devices. In February, Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai confirmed that his company was working with Apple to bring AI-powered iPhones to the Chinese market. Despite these efforts, Apple faced a 5% decline in iPhone sales late last year, largely due to the absence of Apple Intelligence features in China, while domestic competitors like Huawei continued to advance their AI offerings.
China mandates that generative AI models receive government approval before they can be deployed. This has delayed Apple’s ability to launch AI-enabled iPhone 16 models in the country, leading to a mixed response from consumers. Apple is now focused on securing local partnerships and regulatory approvals to ensure its AI features can compete with homegrown alternatives.
As Apple navigates China’s strict AI regulations, Cook’s endorsement of DeepSeek signals the company’s strategy to align with local innovation while reinforcing its presence in a critical market.
