Apple Intelligence Delayed in China Due to AI Model Challenges

Apple Struggles to Adapt Baidu’s LLM for Chinese Users

Apple’s highly anticipated Apple Intelligence feature, promised to arrive with the iOS 18.1 update, is facing a significant delay in China. According to a recent report by The Information, Apple is struggling to adapt Baidu’s large language model (LLM) to understand prompts and provide accurate answers and actions in common scenarios.

Call summary, an Apple Intelligence feature

Why is Apple Intelligence Delayed in China?

Apple’s decision to delay Apple Intelligence in China is not the only issue the company is facing. Apple’s privacy policy does not allow data collection from iPhone users who make AI-related queries, which poses a significant challenge for Baidu, which wants to save the data for “analyzing and improving its AI.”

Baidu’s Ernie 4.0 Model: The Key to Apple Intelligence

The model at the center of the controversy is Ernie 4.0, Baidu’s most advanced LLM. Apple wants to use this model for generative AI on iPhones, Macs, and iPad devices, as well as incorporate it into Siri. However, adapting this model to understand Chinese users’ queries has proven to be a significant challenge for Apple.

What’s Next for Apple Intelligence?

While Apple Intelligence is delayed in China, it’s unclear when the feature will be available to Chinese users. In the meantime, Apple is working to overcome the challenges posed by adapting Baidu’s LLM to Chinese users’ queries.