Apple CEO Tim Cook recently praised DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence models, calling them “excellent” during his visit to the China Development Forum in Beijing. His remarks came ahead of Apple’s developer conference in Shanghai, where the company is expected to discuss Apple Intelligence with Chinese developers. Apple is currently awaiting final approval to integrate its AI technology into iPhones sold in China.
DeepSeek gained attention in January when it launched a new AI model that claimed performance comparable to U.S. competitors while using fewer Nvidia chips. The announcement led to a decline in tech stocks. During Apple’s earnings call on Jan. 30, Cook acknowledged DeepSeek’s innovation, emphasizing the importance of efficiency-driven advancements in AI.
In February, Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai revealed that his company had partnered with Apple to help bring AI-powered iPhones to China. He expressed pride in the collaboration, highlighting Apple’s reliance on Alibaba’s AI capabilities.
Apple has faced challenges in the Chinese market, where its iPhone sales dropped 5% late last year amid growing competition from local brands. A key reason for this decline was the absence of Apple Intelligence features on iPhones sold in China. While Chinese companies like Huawei integrated AI capabilities into their devices, Apple struggled to do the same due to regulatory restrictions.
China requires all generative AI operators to secure government approval before launching their products. Apple has been working to establish partnerships with local companies to facilitate the introduction of Apple Intelligence. The delayed rollout of AI features contributed to mixed reactions to Apple’s iPhone 16 series, according to Counterpoint Research.
With Apple continuing its efforts to bring AI capabilities to China, Cook’s praise for DeepSeek signals the company’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the region while navigating regulatory hurdles and increasing competition.
