Apple CEO Tim Cook has praised the artificial intelligence models developed by Chinese start-up DeepSeek, as the company moves closer to launching Apple Intelligence on the Chinese mainland pending regulatory approval, the South China Morning Post reports.

Speaking at the China Development Forum in Beijing, a state-organized annual event designed to attract global investment, Cook reportedly referred to DeepSeek’s AI models as “excellent.” He did not elaborate on whether Apple would pursue a partnership with the company. Cook previously commented during Apple’s January earnings call that “innovation that drives efficiency is a good thing,” in reference to AI companies like DeepSeek, which have been able to deliver impressive performance with lower cost and compute requirements.

DeepSeek has been praised for developing large language models that achieve comparable results to those from U.S. firms such as OpenAI, while requiring significantly fewer resources. The firm claims that its R1 model was developed in just two months with a total cost of $5.6 million.

In February, it was reported that Apple had reached an agreement with Alibaba Group to integrate the Chinese conglomerate’s Qwen models into ‌Apple Intelligence‌ for mainland users. The company is also believed to be in talks with Baidu to serve as an additional provider of large language models for the Chinese market.

In addition to his comments on AI, Cook announced plans to expand Apple’s cooperation with the China Development Research Foundation, alongside continued investments in clean energy development. Throughout his visit, Cook posted updates on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, showcasing a range of Apple products being used in classrooms, creative environments, and more.

Cook’s comments mark a continuation of Apple’s intensified focus on the Chinese market at a time when the company is facing declining iPhone shipments and heightened competition from domestic brands. Apple’s smartphone shipments in China are believed to have fallen by 25% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2024, while annual shipments dropped 17% to 42.9 million units, placing Apple behind local competitors Vivo and Huawei.

This article, "Apple CEO Tim Cook Praises China's DeepSeek" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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While vivo is yet to set an official date for the X200 Ultra and X200s launch, it has been rumored for some time that it will happen in April. Lending credence to that is the fact that a few days ago vivo Product Manager Han Boxiao posted a close-up image of X200 Ultra’s camera setup and he’s back with an image of the s-phone. So, here is what the vivo X200s will look like (on the right), pictured right next to the vivo X200 Pro mini. They have the same diamond camera arrangement, but the s-phone is larger – it should have a 6.67” display like the vivo X200. “The two models are just the…

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Apple’s AirPods 4 and second-generation AirPods Pro have an Adaptive Audio feature that includes Adaptive Noise Control, Personalized Volume, and Conversation Awareness, which are all features that adjust sound and Active Noise Cancellation in response to the environment around you. If you haven’t used Adaptive Audio, it could be worth a look – especially since iOS 18 allows you more control over the feature.

What is Adaptive Audio?

Adaptive Audio on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 combines three powerful features. Adaptive Noise Control intelligently blends Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation based on your environment. Personalized Volume automatically adjusts audio levels according to your preferences and surroundings. Meanwhile, Conversation Awareness lowers volume and enhances voices when you’re speaking with someone.

Prior to iOS 18, Adaptive Audio was an all-or-nothing setting, but with an iPhone or iPad with up-to-date software, you can customize how aggressively these features respond to your environment.

How to Customize Adaptive Audio

1. Connect your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4 to your iPhone running iOS 18 or later.
2. Open the Settings app.
3. Tap your AirPods at the top of the Settings menu.
4. Tap Adaptive in the “Noise Control” menu, then scroll down to the “Audio” menu sub-section and tap Adaptive Audio.
5. Use the slider to adjust between Less Noise and More Noise.

Moving the slider toward “Less Noise” will strengthen noise cancellation, while moving it toward “More Noise” will allow more ambient sound to filter through when Adaptive Noise Control is active.

When Would You Use This?

This customization is particularly useful in varying environments. If you commute on noisy public transport but still want to hear announcements, you might prefer a middle setting. If you work in an open office and need to focus while still being able to hear your desk phone, you could slide toward “More Noise.” If you’re studying in a coffee shop but find even small distractions pull your focus, you might try “Less Noise.”

Apple has been tying AirPods updates to iOS updates in recent years. In iOS 18, for example, Apple added a suite of hearing health capabilities that test for hearing issues and allow AirPods Pro 2 to be used as a hearing aid if problems are detected. Looking ahead, Apple says that AirPods will gain a new live translation feature later this year.

This article, "Customize Adaptive Audio on AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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