Apple Intelligence gets China approval via Alibaba and Baidu partnerships
Apple's AI suite goes live in China after regulatory greenlight with local model giants.
Apple Intelligence is finally cleared for launch in China. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that the Cyberspace Administration of China approved Apple's generative AI suite after the company struck a deal to integrate Alibaba's Qwen models into its operating systems—iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. The approval marks a major milestone for Apple, whose AI features debuted in 2024 but were delayed in China due to regulatory hurdles. Baidu also confirmed to TechCrunch that it is collaborating with Apple on developing AI capabilities tailored for Chinese users.
Apple generated $20.5 billion in Greater China sales in Q2 2024, up 28% year-over-year, and recently regained the No. 2 position in China's smartphone market after discounting iPhones during a shopping festival. The Alibaba partnership will bring text and image understanding and generation to Apple devices, though no specific timeline has been given. Apple is also reportedly exploring integrations with DeepSeek and ByteDance, signaling a multi-model strategy to navigate China's strict AI regulations.
- Apple Intelligence approved by China's CAC after integrating Alibaba's Qwen models across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS.
- Baidu also confirmed it is working with Apple on custom AI features for Chinese users.
- Apple's Greater China sales hit $20.5B in Q2, up 28% YoY; company regained No. 2 smartphone market position.
Why It Matters
Apple can finally deploy its AI features in China, unlocking a $20.5B market through local model partners.