China has approved Alibaba AI models to power Apple Intelligence in handsets including the iPhone Duo, clearing a regulatory hurdle for the mainland launch.
Key facts
- •China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approved Alibaba's AI models for Apple handsets.
- •The approved technology includes Tongyi Qianwen (Qwen) and the Tongyi Wanxiang image and video tool.
- •Network access permits were updated for devices including the iPhone Duo and 18 Pro.
- •Apple Intelligence has been available in the US for nearly two years but faced delays in mainland China due to strict privacy and AI laws.
China has granted regulatory approval for Alibaba Group Holding's artificial intelligence models to be integrated into Apple handsets in the Chinese market. The approval clears a key hurdle for the long-delayed mainland launch of Apple Intelligence, which is set to feature Alibaba's Qwen models.
Regulatory Filings and Approved Systems
Updated network access permits from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology include three approved AI systems, covering Apple Intelligence alongside Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen (Qwen) LLMs and the Tongyi Wanxiang AI-generated image and video tool. The updated filings include permits for the iPhone Duo and the 18 Pro, with the iPhone Duo scheduled to launch in China with the new Siri AI feature.
Background on the Mainland Rollout
Apple Intelligence has remained unavailable in mainland China despite launching nearly two years ago in the US, where Apple worked with Google and OpenAI. Complex AI and privacy laws on the mainland required a local partnership, with reports of Alibaba's involvement first emerging in early 2025. While Apple Intelligence features are already available in Hong Kong, the mainland launch will finally proceed following regulatory clearance.
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