Apple and Baidu are working to add AI features to iPhones sold in China, but are facing obstacles that could affect the tech giant’s phone sales in the country. Information reported on Wednesday.
Companies adapting Baidu’s large language models for iPhone users are facing issues such as understanding prompts and accuracy for LLMs to respond to common scenarios, according to the report.
Apple and Baidu did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
iPhone sales in China fell 0.3 percent, while rival Huawei posted a 42 percent increase in sales in the third quarter, research firm IDC said in October, amid growing competition in the world’s biggest smartphone market.
Apple’s long-awaited iPhone 16 launch in September was criticized in China for its lack of artificial intelligence features.
Also, Apple’s privacy policies do not allow collecting data from iPhone users who ask AI-related questions, but Baidu wants to save and analyze this data, according to the report.
Baidu’s most advanced model, Ernie 4.0, is serving as the basis for Apple’s genAI services on iPhone, Mac and iPad, the information said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Siri will also use Baidu’s AI models, according to the report.