May 18, 2025 News
US Officials Probe Apple-Alibaba AI Partnership for Chinese iPhones
US government officials and congressional representatives are examining a potential deal between Apple and Alibaba that would integrate Alibaba's AI features into iPhones sold in China. The White House and House Select Committee on China have directly questioned Apple executives about data sharing and regulatory commitments, with Rep. Krishnamoorthi expressing concern about Alibaba's ties to the Chinese government. The deal has only been confirmed by Alibaba thus far, not Apple.
Skynet Chance (+0.01%): The potential for AI systems developed under Chinese governmental influence to be deployed on millions of Apple devices creates a minor increase in risk of AI control and governance issues. The lack of transparency about data sharing and regulatory requirements adds uncertainty about potential security implications.
Skynet Date (+0 days): While this partnership may influence AI development directions, it primarily represents a commercial implementation of existing AI capabilities rather than fundamental research that would accelerate or decelerate the timeline toward advanced AI risks.
AGI Progress (+0.01%): This partnership could modestly accelerate AI capability development through increased deployment, data collection, and commercial competition between US and Chinese tech ecosystems. Cross-border AI collaborations potentially combine different AI approaches and datasets that could incrementally advance the field.
AGI Date (+0 days): The competitive pressure from cross-border AI partnerships might slightly accelerate the timeline to AGI by creating additional incentives for rapid AI advancement in consumer products. Government scrutiny may increase the urgency for both US and Chinese companies to develop competitive AI systems.