Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) CEO Tim Cook, currently visiting China, has praised the country’s artificial intelligence lab DeepSeek (DEEPSEEK), according to a report from the South China Morning Post.

In an interview with the official China News Service, Cook described DeepSeek’s AI models as “excellent”, though he did not provide further details. The release of DeepSeek’s R1 large language model in late January initially sparked concerns among investors and the tech community, with fears that AI-related spending could decline. However, industry leaders—including Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang—later dismissed those concerns, arguing that the initial reaction was misplaced.

Cook’s remarks come during his first official visit to China in 2025, as confirmed by his Weibo account. During his trip, he also highlighted how Apple’s products, such as the iPad and Mac, are enhancing education, showcased excitement around the Vision Pro in a physics class, and noted how the iPhone 16 Pro Max is helping a young musician.