Apple AI Lands China
China Approves Apple Intelligence, Paving Way for AI Features on iPhones with Alibaba and Baidu.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Alibaba confirms part of the arrangement, with its Qwen model powering Apple Intelligence across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS for Chinese users, covering both text and image generation.
2
A July 8 Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) registration list shows Apple Intelligence (alongside Samsung Galaxy AI) having received regulatory filing in China, signaling official progress toward clearance.
3
In China, certain low-RAM iPhone models (8GB) reportedly will miss two Apple Intelligence features, while higher-end models with 12GB of RAM (e.g., flagship variants) will get broader feature support.
4
Apple briefly activated the Apple Intelligence features for some Chinese users in March before formal approval, and a user feedback form appeared late last year as the company moved toward clearance.
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China’s top cyberspace regulator has officially approved the registration of Apple Intelligence, clearing a major regulatory hurdle for rollout in the world’s largest smartphone market.
China has officially cleared Apple Intelligence for launch, giving Apple a green light to bring its AI features to iPhones in the world's largest smartphone market. The Wall Street Journal reported that China's top cyberspace regulator approved Apple's on-device AI service, clearing a major regulatory hurdle that had kept the features off Chinese devices.
Apple will power the features using models from two Chinese tech giants — Alibaba's Qwen and Baidu — covering text and image generation across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, according to MacRumors.
CAC Registration Puts Apple Intelligence on Official Record
China's Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) — the country's top internet watchdog — listed Apple Intelligence on its July 8 registration list. MacRumors noted that Samsung Galaxy AI also appeared on the same list. A CAC registration is a required step before any generative AI service can legally operate in China.
9to5Mac reported that Apple reached a formal agreement with the Chinese government on how Apple Intelligence would comply with local laws that restrict companies from sending certain data outside the country. That agreement shaped how the on-device AI features will be structured and delivered to Chinese users.
Alibaba and Baidu Power the Features Behind the Scenes
Alibaba confirmed it is part of the arrangement. Its Qwen model will handle both text and image generation for Chinese iPhone users. Baidu's models are also involved, WCCFTech reported. This marks one of Apple's most significant partnerships with Chinese AI firms and is a notable departure from the company's usual reliance on its own in-house models.
Apple has long used its own Apple silicon and software stacks to run AI features privately on devices. In China, local regulations effectively required Apple to lean on domestic partners instead. The result is a two-layer system — Apple's interface on top, Chinese AI models underneath.
Apple Was Already Testing Features Before Formal Approval
This approval did not come out of nowhere. Apple briefly switched on Apple Intelligence features for some Chinese users in March — before formal approval was granted. MacRumors also noted that a user feedback form surfaced in China late last year, suggesting Apple was quietly gathering data as it worked toward clearance.
WCCFTech noted that discussions with Apple about powerful Chinese AI partners had been underway for some time. The early test rollout and feedback collection show Apple was moving steadily toward this moment, even as the official green light took months to arrive.
Not Every iPhone in China Will Get the Full Experience
The rollout will not be the same for all devices. WCCFTech reported that iPhones with 8GB of RAM will miss two Apple Intelligence features in China. Only flagship models with 12GB of RAM will get the full suite of capabilities. Apple has faced similar RAM-based feature limits in other markets too.
The timing matters for Apple's business. iPhone shipments in China have been climbing, and Market Screener noted the approval gives consumers who care about AI a reason to upgrade to higher-end models like the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple now has a clearer path to compete with domestic rivals — including Huawei — that already ship AI features on Chinese devices.
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