Tim Cook praises DeepSeek's AI models in Beijing

Apple CEO Tim Cook praised a Chinese start-up called DeepSeek for its artificial intelligence models. He spoke about this at the China Development Forum in Beijing. This forum aims to attract global investment. Cook called DeepSeek's AI models "excellent," but he did not confirm if Apple would partner with them. DeepSeek is known for its large language models that work similarly to those from American companies like OpenAI but use fewer resources. The company claims to have developed its R1 model in just two months for $5.6 million. In February, Apple agreed to work with Alibaba to integrate its AI models into Apple Intelligence for users in China. Apple is also discussing a potential partnership with Baidu for additional AI support in the Chinese market. During his visit, Cook announced plans to deepen Apple's collaboration with the China Development Research Foundation. He is also focused on continuing investments in clean energy projects. Cook has been active on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, sharing how Apple products are being used in educational and creative settings. His positive comments come as Apple faces challenges in China, where iPhone shipments have dropped significantly. Recent reports indicate that Apple's smartphone sales in China fell by 25% year-on-year in late 2024, trailing behind local brands like Vivo and Huawei.