Apple Intelligence is not good at this point, but at the very least, Apple was smart enough to work with OpenAI to give users the option of having a better AI perform the more comprehensive and complicated tasks. We also know that Apple has plans to introduce more AI models to give users more options, and Alibaba is one of them.
Apple-Alibaba deal under scrutiny
However, to no one’s surprise, US lawmakers are concerned about a potential Apple-Alibaba deal. According to a report from The New York Times, anonymous sources say that White House officials and members of the House Select Committee on China are asking Apple executives about the deal. These questions involve data that would be shared with Alibaba and whether Apple had made any commitments to Chinese regulators.
It might not look good for Apple because, according to the report, Apple execs could not answer most of these questions.
Apple plans to bring more AI models to Apple Intelligence. Right now, OpenAI’s ChatGPT is the only option. However, for the Chinese market, Apple is reportedly planning to work with Alibaba. It’s not surprising given that China probably doesn’t want a foreign AI model to access data from its citizens. It was previously rumored that Apple could work with DeepSeek, but that isn’t the case.
Other AI models
In addition to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Alibaba, we have heard reports that Apple could work with Google to bring Gemini to Apple Intelligence. So far, nothing has been confirmed, but it makes sense. Apple and Google have a frenemy relationship. Both companies are rivals in the mobile and tech space, but they both need each other.
Apple has a large number of iPhone users, and Google needs that. That is why Google is paying Apple billions a year to remain Safari’s default search. Google also has a ton of apps available on iOS. So, integrating Gemini into Apple Intelligence seems like a logical progression.
We’re not sure if the concerns of US lawmakers will have an impact on this deal. However, if Apple is hoping to maintain its share and position in the Chinese market, it will have no choice but to use a local AI model, whether it be Alibaba or DeepSeek.
