Apple Intelligence in China: Censored AI Likely Delayed
Apple Intelligence in China: Censored AI Delayed
Bild: Apple
While Apple Global had already admitted major delays in its AI plans, it also appears to be holding back in the Chinese market. The censored AI models will likely not ship with iOS 18.5, but only with a later update to iOS 18.6. Apple Intelligence is also delayed in China.
Apple Intelligence also appears later in China
As Marc Gurman of Bloomberg reports, Apple is further working on the implementation of Apple Intelligence specifically for the People’s Republic of China. However, there are no AI features in the current public test versions of iOS 18.5. A release with iOS 18.5, which could perhaps be made available to the public next week, is highly unlikely. For the iPhone manufacturer, the release of Apple Intelligence in China is a double-edged sword: on the one hand, the company, which wants to defend privacy and data protection, must comply with opposing regulations in China. On the other hand, AI features are essential to boost iPhone sales in the world’s second-largest sales market, as local competition is also linked to AI.
Chinese, yes, but not in China
Apple Intelligence is currently available in a simplified Chinese world, but not in the People’s Republic of China itself. There, the company must comply with registration mechanisms due to existing laws. With it, Apple meets the Chinese Communist Party’s requirements to meet global and AI models available in the EU, a “censorship engine” is installed, which it developed with Alibaba.
This is intended to prevent results that violated local provisions. Public use of “free” AI models like in Europe or the United States is prohibited in China; AI models must be approved by the Chinese government. The easiest way to do this is with a local partner like Alibaba.
Originally probably planned for May
Officially Apple Its AI functions for the People’s Republic of China have not been announced, as well as the European Union, the country was simply excluded from presenting the functions in June. However, rumors in recent weeks have predicted the implementation of the project for May. Summer, from June onwards, would have been considered as an alternative date. This has never been officially confirmed, but Gurman’s internal ideas have been very specific over the past few months.
iOS 18.5 soon, iOS 18.6 later
Before iOS 18.6 appears, however, iOS 18.5 is released this month, which is currently in public testing. iOS 18.6 could then appear in the coming weeks, probably after WWDC 2025 in June. Then iOS 19 would probably already be announced.
Sarah tracks innovations in smartphones, evaluating their performance, design, and key features.
