Apple is reportedly in preliminary discussions with Tencent and ByteDance to integrate their AI models into iPhones sold in China.

This move comes as ChatGPT is unavailable in the region due to regulatory restrictions.

These discussions align with Apple’s efforts to enhance Siri’s capabilities through AI, following its recent incorporation of ChatGPT in other markets.

No official responses from ByteDance, Tencent, or Apple have been made public.

Establishing a local AI partnership is crucial for Apple in China, where domestic brands like Huawei are advancing.

The lack of AI features in iPhones has hurt Apple’s market, with sales falling 0.3%, while Huawei’s surged by 42%.

Recent Apple developments