Alibaba’s AI Models Cleared for Use in Apple Intelligence in China Just in Time for iPhone Duo Launch
Apple’s embedded AI system has yet to be rolled out in mainland China, despite launching almost two years ago.
Apple Intelligence will soon make its way to supported iPhone models in China, as the country has reportedly approved the use of Alibaba’s AI models to power the technology.
As reported by South China Morning Postpart of Alibaba Group, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has given regulatory approval to Tongyi Qianwen, the LLM group better known as Qwen, and AI-generated image and video tool Tongyi Wanxiang.
Apple had already received permission to deploy Apple Intelligence on the Chinese mainland in July, but the South China Morning PostThe report indicates that this has not yet been done. The updated documents include network access permissions for the iPhone Duo and 18 Pro, with the former expected to launch in China next week with the new and improved Siri AI as one of its flagship software features.
Much of Apple Intelligence’s functionality is already available in Hong Kong, but the mainland’s complex AI and privacy laws have required Apple to be patient before introducing what is now an essential feature in one of its fastest-growing markets. It now appears to be arriving almost exactly two years after its launch in the US, where Apple worked with Google and OpenAI to train its models and convey complex questions.
Reports that Apple would seek to work with Chinese AI companies to find a workaround to bring Apple Intelligence to the country first emerged in early 2025, with Alibaba named at the time. This summer, it was confirmed that Qwen would be at the heart of Apple Intelligence in the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro compatible models that it sells to its Chinese customers.
