Apple Intelligence is honored by Xiaomi with the 'thoughtful' AI assistant Super Xiao.
"Where have we seen this before?"
Xiaomi has introduced its new artificial intelligence assistant, Super Xiao AI, which bears a striking resemblance to Apple Intelligence. This update to the voice assistant is described as "thoughtful and capable" of performing more complex tasks than its predecessor, Xiao AI. The similarities are so evident that it almost seems like a clone of Apple's AI system.
When using Super Xiao AI to write text, users may notice that its features are reminiscent of the Type to Siri function from Apple Intelligence; even the shape of the text box and the placement of the logo are virtually identical. A user on social media demonstrated the similarities between Super Xiao AI and Apple's writing tools.
According to the observation, Xiaomi's new writing functionality resembles Apple's user interface so closely that it appears almost a literal copy. It incorporates the novel ability to input commands to direct the writing tool, similar to the recent update of the writing tools in iOS 18.2. Super Xiao AI will be part of a broader software update for Xiaomi's flagship phones running HyperOS 2, including the Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 14 models.
This is not the first time the Chinese company has drawn inspiration from its North American competitor. Its MIUI operating system features a strikingly similar design to the Control Center in iOS 17, and it has also adopted interface elements in the camera app and settings.
The trend of copying Apple's appealing designs is evident among many brands, but Xiaomi's strategy is so blatant that it often overshadows the quality of its products. While several tech journalists praise Xiaomi phones—such as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra being dubbed the "king of camera phones"—iPhone users are more likely to remember the company’s attempts to replicate iOS than to become familiar with its devices.
Certainly, Oscar Wilde's saying "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness" is relevant here. However, the question arises as to why a company that is above mediocrity continues to emulate. Despite the possibility that Super Xiao AI could surpass Apple Intelligence as the best AI voice assistant, it will always carry the label of being an Apple clone.
