US Lawmakers Investigate Apple-Alibaba AI Partnership
US officials are scrutinizing a deal between Apple and Alibaba that integrates Alibaba's AI features into iPhones sold in China. The deal has drawn attention from the White House and the House Select Committee on China, according to The New York Times.
Concerns center around data sharing practices and potential commitments made to Chinese regulators. Alibaba confirmed the deal, but Apple has not publicly commented.
Data Sharing and Regulatory Concerns
Congressional officials have questioned Apple executives about the specifics of the data shared with Alibaba and any agreements made with Chinese authorities. According to reports, Apple executives were unable to provide satisfactory answers to these questions.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, expressed concern, describing Alibaba as a "poster child" for the Chinese Communist Party's military-civil fusion strategy. He found Apple's lack of transparency "extremely disturbing."
This scrutiny comes amid escalating tensions between the US and China, further complicating Apple's business operations in the region. The iPhone maker already faces challenges like fluctuating tariffs, as reported by TechCrunch.
