Apple Intelligence approved for launch in China with Alibaba’s Qwen AI
In Brief
8:29 AM PDT · July 15, 2026
Apple Intelligence, the iPhone maker’s generative AI offering, is coming to China. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that China’s regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China, approved Apple’s AI services in the country, on the back of a deal to integrate Alibaba’s Qwen AI model into Apple’s operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS.
The deal, which was rumored to be in the works last year, marks an important step for Apple’s AI ambitions in a key market. In the second quarter, Apple sales in Greater China increased 28% to $20.5 billion. Apple also recently regained the No. 2 position in China’s smartphone market after a recent shopping festival offered discounts on the iPhone lineup.
Prior to working with Alibaba, Apple was reportedly exploring a deal with Baidu, but faced issues adapting its models for Chinese customers. It also explored integrations with...
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