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Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple Inc., highlighted China’s rapid technical breakthroughs during a noteworthy visit to Hangzhou, the country’s emerging centre for artificial intelligence. The AI pioneer DeepSeek is based in Hangzhou, which has gained international recognition for creating models at a significantly lower cost than their American equivalents.
Cook spoke with “the next generation of developers” at Zhejiang University, one of the most prominent universities in China, during his visit on Wednesday. He emphasised the importance of encouraging innovation in a post on his official Weibo account. In keeping with its pledge to promote research and education in the area, Apple also announced a donation of 30 million yuan ($4.1 million) to the institution. Among the distinguished alumni of Zhejiang University are Colin Huang, the CEO of PDD Holdings Inc., and Liang Wenfeng, the creator of DeepSeek.
In addition to DeepSeek, Hangzhou is home to the tech behemoth Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and a number of significant startups known as the “Six Little Dragons.” These include the AI firm Manycore Tech Inc. and the humanoid robot manufacturer Unitree Robotics. These businesses are an example of China’s efforts to become technologically independent, especially in reaction to export restrictions imposed by the United States.
While it remains unclear whether Cook plans to visit any of these companies during his stay, his presence in Hangzhou highlights the city’s growing influence in the global tech landscape. Apple has yet to comment on any potential engagements with local firms.
Cook’s China tour began with high-level meetings in Beijing, including a discussion with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. His visit comes at a critical time as the U.S. considers imposing further tariffs and sanctions on Chinese technology firms, adding another layer of complexity to the already tense trade relations between the two economic superpowers.
