Apple Tailors AI Model for Chinese Market! Partners with Alibaba to Navigate Regulations, iPhone Features to Get Major Upgrade

To meet China's stringent regulations and sustain its market position, Apple has partnered with Alibaba to train a large language model specifically for the Chinese market. Last week, Apple released a Chinese user guide, which it later quietly removed. According to three informed sources, Apple has trained a dedicated large language model for China, marking a departure from its previous strategy of relying on third-party models to power AI features in the country.

The sources said the model was developed in collaboration with Alibaba Group, with the Chinese tech giant supporting the training process. Due to the sensitivity of the information and its non-public nature, they requested anonymity. Apple’s development of a China-specific in-house model has never been previously reported. In China, U.S. models such as Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s ChatGPT are unavailable—while in the U.S. market, Apple combines its own technology with these models. As a result, Apple had previously preferred to leverage local partners’ models to introduce generative AI to iPhones and other devices sold in China.

Apple and Alibaba did not respond to requests for comment. To bypass China’s strict regulations, Apple is implementing a dual-track strategy in its AI market rollout.

Sources indicate that Apple’s AI suite, Apple Intelligence, is expected to launch in China within months following an iOS system update. Owning a custom-built model for China will give Apple greater control over the AI experience in its most competitive overseas market, where it has lost some market share to local rivals like Huawei that have launched AI-powered smartphones ahead of Apple.

Apple’s deployment represents a unique 'dual-track' strategy for foreign companies operating AI in China, helping it circumvent the high regulatory barriers that have blocked many other U.S. tech firms. It could also make Apple the first foreign company approved by Beijing to offer its own AI model in China—a rare instance of U.S.-China tech cooperation amid widening trade and diplomatic rifts over AI.

This move follows a lengthy approval process completed last month: China’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), finalized the filing registration for Apple’s generative AI service, clearing the way for Apple Intelligence to debut on iPhones in China.

Under this arrangement, Alibaba’s Qwen (Tongyi Qianwen) model will be integrated into the version of Apple Intelligence shipped with compatible iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Vision Pro devices in China. Reuters reported in July that the service would also incorporate Baidu’s technology.

Last week, Apple released a Chinese-language guide explaining how eligible Mac users in mainland China could connect Qwen to the Siri digital assistant and the 'Writing Tools' feature—a special arrangement for Mac that could help Apple compete in China’s AI-powered PC market. Apple later removed the guide without explanation.

After news of the July filing completion emerged, Alibaba’s U.S.-listed shares rose about 4% in pre-market trading, highlighting investor expectations that the partnership could reshape China’s AI ecosystem.

Functionality adjustments to comply with Chinese regulations have delayed the launch.

Apple’s collaboration with Alibaba was first confirmed in February 2025. Alibaba Group Chairman Joe Tsai said at the World Government Summit in Dubai that Apple would adopt the company’s AI to power its phones in China. He noted that Apple had engaged with several Chinese firms but ultimately chose to partner with Alibaba. Since then, the launch has been delayed as Apple needed to adjust features to comply with Chinese regulations.

China remains a critical market determining Apple’s performance, accounting for a significant portion of its revenue. Previous analyses suggested that the lack of AI features in China-specific iPhones was a factor dragging down sales, as consumers shifted to local brands with built-in AI assistants.

It remains unclear how Apple’s in-house trained model will divide responsibilities with Chinese models and how the two will work together. DW Chinese has an Instagram! Follow dw.chinese for more in-depth图文 and video reports. © 2026 Deutsche Welle Copyright: All content is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use without special authorization from Deutsche Welle is prohibited. Any improper conduct will result in compensation and criminal prosecution.