Apple, in collaboration with Alibaba, has created a large language model tailored for the Chinese market, as reported by Reuters citing three sources.
Details About the Model
The sources did not disclose the model's name or its specifications. They indicated that this is the first time Apple has independently developed an AI system for Beijing, having previously relied on local partners to implement generative AI on devices sold in the region.
American equivalents that Apple utilizes domestically, such as Claude by Anthropic and ChatGPT by OpenAI, are not available in China.
This proprietary model will complement existing partnerships rather than replace them. However, the sources did not clarify how responsibilities will be divided between Apple’s development and Chinese solutions. Reuters noted that this hybrid approach has not been previously seen among foreign companies in China.
Apple Intelligence is expected to launch in China within the next few weeks or months, coinciding with an iOS update.
Regulatory Approval
Prior to the launch, there was a lengthy approval process. In July, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) registered Apple’s generative AI service, a necessary step for any public model, which until now had only included local developers.
If the information from Reuters is confirmed, Apple will be the first foreign company permitted by Beijing to offer its own AI system in China.
According to a July agreement, Alibaba will integrate Qwen into Apple Intelligence for compatible devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro) in the Chinese market; the service will also utilize Baidu’s technologies.
Last week, Apple published a Chinese-language guide for Mac users in mainland China, explaining how to connect Qwen to Siri and "Writing Tools." However, the document was soon removed without explanation.
Focus on the Chinese Market
The partnership between the two companies was first confirmed in February 2025 by Alibaba's chairman Joe Tsai. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, he stated that Apple is using Alibaba’s AI system in its smartphones for China.
"They talked to many Chinese companies and ultimately chose us," Tsai stated at that time.
The deployment has been delayed due to the need to adapt features to comply with Chinese regulations. China remains a key market for Apple, with analysts indicating that the absence of AI on local iPhones contributed to a decline in sales, as consumers turned to local brands with built-in assistants, particularly Huawei.
In July, Reuters reported that China was planning to restrict access to AI models. Three sources revealed that the Ministry of Commerce of China was actively discussing this with Alibaba, ByteDance, and Z.ai.
Simultaneously, the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump resumed discussions on potential measures regarding Chinese neural networks with open weights.