When Apple looked up at the sky and saw the DeepSeek star

However, despite heavily promoting its artificial intelligence (AI) features, Apple has yet to introduce Apple Intelligence in China, a key market for the product. But things could soon change as Apple is reportedly considering integrating the DeepSeek model into Apple Intelligence for the Chinese market.

DeepSeek is the piece that helps Apple bring Apple Intelligence to China.

One of the main reasons why Apple Intelligence has not launched in China is because the company needs to get its AI model approved for compliance with the country's regulations. Chinese laws have prevented Apple from using the same AI models it uses in other regions. With lower operating costs, DeepSeek could be a reasonable alternative for Apple, as a domestic product would make it easier for Apple to comply with regulations.

If Apple Intelligence is brought to the Chinese market, it could boost iPhone sales in the region, especially as Apple is losing market share to domestic manufacturers who offer products at more competitive prices.

However, analysts still believe that using Chinese AI may not solve the core problems that Apple is facing. One of the biggest challenges is that Apple Intelligence is still incomplete and often delayed.

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Users are still waiting for a new version of Siri that promises to change the way they use their iPhones, but it is reported that this transformation may not happen until 2026. Furthermore, Apple Intelligence often has difficulty performing simple tasks such as summarizing news and messages, leading to misleading and confusing notifications for users.

Despite all this, the emergence of DeepSeek could bring new hope to Apple and the company's AI team, opening up potential opportunities in the future.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 10 February 2025