Apple Develops China-Specific AI Model With Alibaba Support

Apple has developed a China-specific AI model with Alibaba’s support as it prepares to bring Apple Intelligence to Chinese users.

Apple has developed an artificial intelligence model specifically for the Chinese market with support from Alibaba, marking a significant shift in the company’s approach to deploying AI services in China.

People familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity because the development has not been publicly disclosed, said Apple trained the model with assistance from Alibaba, its Chinese technology partner.

Apple and Alibaba did not immediately comment on the development.

Apple’s AI platform, Apple Intelligence, is expected to become available in China in the coming months following an update to the company’s iOS operating system, according to the sources.

Developing a model specifically for China could give Apple greater control over how its AI services operate in the country, where competition from domestic smartphone manufacturers has intensified.

Companies such as Huawei have moved aggressively to integrate artificial intelligence into their devices, increasing pressure on Apple as it seeks to maintain its position in one of its most important international markets.

The strategy could also allow Apple to combine its own AI technology with Chinese-developed models while complying with Beijing’s strict regulations governing generative artificial intelligence services.

If approved for deployment, Apple would become one of the first foreign technology companies to offer a proprietary AI model in China, underscoring the close cooperation between the US technology giant and Chinese firms despite growing tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The development follows a lengthy regulatory process in China. The Cyberspace Administration of China has registered Apple’s generative AI service, paving the way for Apple Intelligence to be introduced on compatible devices in the country.

Under its existing arrangement with Alibaba, the company’s Qwen AI model is expected to be integrated into the Chinese version of Apple Intelligence across supported iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro devices.

Apple has also been working with Baidu on AI technology for the Chinese market, according to previous reports.

The company recently released a Chinese-language guide explaining how eligible Mac users in mainland China could connect Alibaba’s Qwen model to features including Siri and Writing Tools. The guide was later removed without explanation.

Apple’s collaboration with Alibaba came to public attention in February 2025, when Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai revealed that the two companies had reached an agreement after Apple evaluated several major Chinese technology companies.

The launch of Apple Intelligence in China was subsequently delayed as Apple worked to ensure its AI services complied with local regulations.

China remains a crucial market for Apple and contributes significantly to the company’s global business. The absence of Apple Intelligence on Chinese iPhones has also been viewed as a disadvantage as consumers increasingly turn to domestic brands offering AI-powered features.

It remains unclear how Apple’s newly developed model will work alongside Alibaba’s Qwen and other third-party Chinese AI systems, or how the different technologies will ultimately be integrated into Apple Intelligence.