iPhone 16 Lineup To Reportedly Face Another Obstacle That Might Hamper Apple’s AI Push And Overall Shipments In China

Huawei’s resurgence is not the only element threatening Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup. With Apple Intelligence expected to arrive later this year as part of the technology giant’s plans to push its own version of generative AI, the Cupertino firm is banking on future partnerships with Chinese-based firms for potential deals to help bring its ambition to reality. The only problem with this move is that no progress has been made, at least according to the latest report.

Companies like Apple need to obtain government approval before launching AI-powered devices; the iPhone 16 could have a tough time in this region due to setbacks

Apple has previously been reported to be in talks with OpenAI and Baidu for its generative AI push, but things are a little different when the iPhone 16 family launches in China. According to TrendForce, Apple requires government approval if it wants to release AI devices, but there are no details mentioned if the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max require the same approval. For those that do not know, the company’s 2023 ‘Pro’ models can run Apple Intelligence as they are the only two devices that ship with 8GB RAM, which is still insufficient, but it will get the job done.

The upcoming iPhone 16 models are also said to feature 8GB RAM, automatically giving them compatibility to run Apple Intelligence. Apple has reportedly attempted to appease Chinese authorities by bringing AI models that run foreign languages, though approval is not guaranteed. Instead, the company is said to pin its hopes on local companies like Baidu. Unfortunately, the partnership between the two entities has yet to materialize, with Huawei likely having a better chance at forming a deal.

In short, if the iPhone 16 range does not support Apple Intelligence right off the bat when launching in China, it could result in a deleterious launch in the region. Various analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo, already believe that the iPhone 16 will lack compelling features, resulting in Apple suffering up to a 15 percent shipments decline. Whatever the situation is, the California-based behemoth is racing against time, but let us continue to see if it comes out on top.

News Source: TrendForce