Apple finally brings its AI to China with Alibaba’s help

Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI system for iPhones and Macs, just got the green light to launch in China. The approval came after Apple struck a deal with Alibaba to use its Qwen AI model, which will power features like text and image generation in Apple’s software. This is a big move for Apple, as China is a critical market where iPhone sales recently jumped 28 percent.

Before settling on Alibaba, Apple reportedly considered partnerships with Baidu, ByteDance, and DeepSeek, but those didn’t work out. The delay meant Chinese users missed out on Apple Intelligence features that rolled out elsewhere in 2024. Now, with Alibaba’s tech on board, Apple can finally offer its AI tools in China, though no exact launch date has been given yet.

Alibaba’s stock rose over 6 percent on the news, showing how much this deal matters for both companies. For Apple, it’s about keeping its footing in a competitive market where local brands dominate. For Alibaba, it’s a chance to showcase its AI capabilities on a global stage.

Apple has been pushing hard to grow in China, even regaining the number two spot in smartphone sales there after a recent shopping festival. But the country has strict rules around AI, so partnering with a local player like Alibaba was likely the fastest way to get approval.

This matters because it shows how tech giants have to adapt to local rules to access huge markets. For everyday users in China, it means getting AI features on iPhones that others have had for a while. But it also raises questions about how much control Apple has over its AI when relying on another company’s model.

Next, watch for the official rollout date and how well these AI features perform with Alibaba’s tech. Will users notice a difference, or will it feel seamless?

What do you think about Apple using a local AI model to enter China’s market? Is this a smart compromise or a risk for user experience?

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Filed under: Apple, Alibaba, AI, ChinaTech, AppleIntelligence