Apple Intelligence is moving closer to a commercial rollout for supported iPhones in mainland China, nearly two years after the artificial intelligence suite debuted in the United States. Chinese regulators have granted approval for Alibaba’s AI models to operate on several Apple devices, removing a major regulatory obstacle for the impending release.
The development arrives shortly before the anticipated regional debut of Apple's first foldable device, the iPhone Duo. According to reports from the South China Morning Post, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has updated network access permits for the iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro, and select legacy iPhone hardware to incorporate Alibaba systems.
The approved technologies include the Tongyi Qianwen model, commonly known as Qwen, alongside the Tongyi Wanxiang system, which facilitates AI-driven image and video generation. While Apple previously secured regulatory clearance for Apple Intelligence generally within mainland China, the software suite has not yet launched locally.
To comply with stringent national regulations concerning artificial intelligence services, data protection, and algorithmic deployment, Apple opted to partner with a domestic provider rather than relying on its international partners like OpenAI and Google. Alibaba's Qwen models are slated to drive key Apple Intelligence functions, encompassing both text and image creation across compatible iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Vision Pro devices sold in the region.
The upcoming availability of these capabilities is vital for Apple as it defends its market share against aggressive domestic competitors. Local smartphone brands, including Huawei, have steadily expanded their presence in the premium tier by heavily marketing advanced AI functions. Although the recent regulatory clearance does not signal an immediate activation of Apple Intelligence, it highlights active preparations to introduce the ecosystem to Chinese consumers.