ModelBest’s on-device AI model is coming to Samsung smartphones
ModelBest, a Chinese developer specializing in on-device artificial intelligence models, has partnered with Samsung to integrate its MiniCPM models into several of Samsung’s flagship smartphones. This collaboration signals a growing trend among major smartphone manufacturers to work with external AI model developers rather than exclusively relying on in-house solutions. The announcement coincides with Chinese regulatory approval for seven generative AI services designed for smartphones, including offerings from Apple, Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Samsung, and ByteDance, indicating a broader commercialization of on-device AI. This shift suggests a nascent division of labor within the AI development landscape, with companies like ModelBest, incubated by Tsinghua University, emerging as key players in specialized on-device AI solutions.
This partnership between ModelBest and Samsung is a significant indicator of the maturing AI landscape in Asia, particularly concerning on-device AI. For years, major Chinese smartphone makers largely developed their AI models in-house. However, this deal, alongside Alibaba’s integration of Qwen into Apple Intelligence for mainland China, signals a strategic pivot towards collaboration and specialization. It suggests that even tech giants are recognizing the efficiencies and advanced capabilities offered by dedicated external AI model developers, fostering a more interconnected ecosystem.
Furthermore, the regulatory registration of multiple on-device generative AI services in China underscores the market’s readiness for widespread adoption. This move validates ModelBest’s early focus on on-device models, a strategy that initially seemed unfashionable when the industry was preoccupied with large, cloud-based models. The company’s success in developing highly efficient, low-parameter models that outperform larger counterparts, coupled with its adaptability across various chip platforms and its expansion into automotive AI, positions it as a critical enabler for the next generation of smart devices across Asia.
