Baidu is establishing closer relations with US tech companies like Apple and Tesla in areas such as AI and self-driving technology, capitalizing on China’s restrictions on overseas data transfers, as part of its push to diversify beyond search, reports Nikkei Asia. Generative artificial intelligence was a major topic of a Baidu earnings call Thursday, with CEO Robin Li citing partnerships with smartphone vendors Samsung, Honor, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi.
Apple was not on this list. But The Wall Street Journal reported in March that the American technology giant has held preliminary talks with Baidu to use the Chinese company’s generative AI in its devices.
Chinese authorities have not approved the use of generative AI systems from foreign companies in the country. Apple, which has recently struggled in the Chinese market, is believed to be weighing a partnership with Baidu—a front-runner in generative AI—to boost its sales. Such a partnership would give the Chinese company an in with the country’s many iPhone users.