Apple Intelligence Cleared to Launch in China With Alibaba’s Qwen AI
China's Cyberspace Administration approved Apple's AI service this week, with Alibaba confirming its Qwen model will power Apple Intelligence across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro.
Apple’s AI ambitions in China have cleared a major hurdle. China’s Cyberspace Administration registered Apple Intelligence for use in the country on Wednesday, per Reuters, meeting Beijing’s regulatory requirement for companies offering large language models or generative AI services.
Alibaba separately confirmed that its Qwen model will power Apple Intelligence functions across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS for Chinese users.
The long-rumored partnership marks a significant expansion of Apple’s generative AI platform into one of its most important markets.
Regulatory Approval After a Long Search for a Partner
Getting here took Apple more than a year of planning. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Apple Intelligence in China will use AI models from both Baidu and Alibaba instead of a single partner.
TechCrunch reports Apple initially pursued Baidu but struggled to adapt its models for Chinese users. It also explored DeepSeek and the TikTok parent, ByteDance, before choosing Alibaba as its primary AI partner.
Those setbacks delayed Apple Intelligence in China well beyond its 2024 global debut.
Neither China’s Cyberspace Administration nor Apple has announced a launch date, but the registration marks the final major regulatory hurdle before the feature reaches Chinese iPhone users.
What Qwen Brings to Apple’s China Experience
Alibaba described the integration in concrete terms to CNBC, saying users will be able to tap Qwen’s text and image processing and generation abilities directly inside Apple’s own interface, rather than switching to a standalone app like Siri AI.
That mirrors Apple’s approach in other markets, where services like ChatGPT are integrated into native features rather than offered as standalone products.
Alibaba also confirmed to TechCrunch that Qwen will be “integrated into Apple Intelligence experiences” when the rollout begins.
Reuters reports Baidu is also contributing to Apple’s China rollout, giving the company two domestic AI partners as it works to match Apple Intelligence features available in other regions.
Stakes for Apple’s China Business and Market Reaction
The timing is significant for Apple. TechCrunch notes its Greater China revenue rose 28% to $20.5 billion in the second quarter, while iPhone discounts during a major shopping festival helped the company regain the No. 2 spot in China’s smartphone market.
Investors reacted quickly to Alibaba’s role in the deal, with TechCrunch reporting the company’s US-listed shares rose 4% in pre-market trading before climbing past 6% as the news spread.
CNBC places the announcement against a tenser backdrop, noting Alibaba recently barred employees from using Anthropic’s AI tools while Congress weighs legislation to limit US companies’ reliance on Chinese AI technology.
These developments highlight how closely Apple’s AI strategy in China is now intertwined with broader geopolitical tensions.
Source: Apple Intelligence AI service registered with Chinese cyberspace regulator
