Apple Intelligence Receives Green Light for Launch in China in Collaboration with Alibaba and Baidu
Apple’s generative AI platform, Apple Intelligence, is set to launch in China.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s internet content regulator, has granted approval for Apple’s AI services, following a collaboration to incorporate Alibaba’s Qwen AI model into Apple’s software systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS.
Later that evening, a spokesperson from Baidu confirmed to TechCrunch that they, too, are collaborating with Apple to enhance Apple Intelligence specifically for Chinese consumers.
The agreement with Alibaba, which had been anticipated for a while, represents a significant advancement in Apple’s AI plans within an essential market. In the second quarter, Apple’s revenue in Greater China reached $20.5 billion, up by 28% compared to the same period last year. Additionally, Apple recently reclaimed the No. 2 spot in China’s smartphone sector after a promotional event featuring discounts on iPhones.
The partnership with Baidu, which was also speculated earlier, highlights that Apple encountered challenges adapting its AI solutions to better fit the preferences of Chinese users. The company is also reportedly looking into potential collaborations with DeepSeek and ByteDance.
Regulatory delays in China had pushed back the rollout of Apple Intelligence features, which initially launched in 2024.
Alibaba has confirmed the partnership, stating that its Qwen models will be embedded into Apple Intelligence experiences, although no specific timeline was provided. The company mentioned that these integrations will include AI functions for “text and image understanding and generation.”
This article was updated on Thursday, July 16, to include Baidu’s statement.
