Apple creates an AI model tailored for China, with support from Alibaba
Apple has created an AI model tailored for China, collaborating with Alibaba to introduce Apple Intelligence to users in the region.
Apple has created an artificial intelligence model tailored for the Chinese market, with assistance from Alibaba, signifying a notable change in the company’s strategy for implementing AI services in China.
Individuals knowledgeable about the situation, who asked to remain unnamed due to the confidential nature of the development, indicated that Apple collaborated with Alibaba, its Chinese technology partner, to train the model.
Apple and Alibaba have yet to provide a response regarding the development.
Apple’s AI platform, Apple Intelligence, is anticipated to launch in China in the upcoming months after an update to the company’s iOS, as reported by sources.
Creating a model tailored for China could provide Apple with enhanced control over the operation of its AI services in the country, where competition from local smartphone manufacturers has become more fierce.
Companies like Huawei have taken bold steps to incorporate artificial intelligence into their devices, intensifying the challenge for Apple as it strives to uphold its status in one of its key international markets.
The strategy may enable Apple to integrate its proprietary AI technology with models developed in China, all while adhering to Beijing’s stringent regulations on generative artificial intelligence services.
If approved for deployment, Apple would be among the first foreign technology companies to provide a proprietary AI model in China, highlighting the strong collaboration between the US technology giant and Chinese firms, even amidst increasing tensions between Washington and Beijing.
The development comes after an extensive regulatory process in China. The Cyberspace Administration of China has officially registered Apple’s generative AI service, setting the stage for the introduction of Apple Intelligence on compatible devices within the country.
Under its current agreement with Alibaba, the company’s Qwen AI model is anticipated to be incorporated into the Chinese version of Apple Intelligence across compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro devices.
Apple has been collaborating with Baidu on AI technology tailored for the Chinese market, as indicated by earlier reports.
The company has recently published a guide in Chinese that details how eligible Mac users in mainland China can connect Alibaba’s Qwen model to features such as Siri and Writing Tools. The guide was subsequently taken down without any explanation provided.
Apple’s partnership with Alibaba was highlighted in February 2025, when Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai announced that the two companies had finalized an agreement following Apple’s assessment of several leading Chinese technology firms.
The introduction of Apple Intelligence in China faced a delay as Apple took the necessary steps to ensure its AI services adhered to local regulations.
China is an essential market for Apple and plays a vital role in the company’s overall business strategy. The lack of Apple Intelligence on Chinese iPhones is seen as a drawback, especially as consumers are increasingly opting for domestic brands that provide AI-powered features.
It is still uncertain how Apple’s newly developed model will interact with Alibaba’s Qwen and other third-party Chinese AI systems, or how the various technologies will eventually be incorporated into Apple Intelligence.
