Apple receives regulatory approval in China to roll out Apple Intelligence on iPhones, after a lengthy review under China’s rules for generative AI services. Multiple outlets report that China’s cyberspace regulator authorizes the service for use on Apple devices, which enables features associated with Apple Intelligence such as tasks that summarise, draft, and edit content and generate or edit images. The rollout is expected to rely on Chinese AI providers’ models to comply with local requirements. Reporting converges on partnerships with Alibaba and Baidu, with Alibaba’s Qwen model and Baidu models (including Baidu’s Ernie series) described as sources for underlying capabilities within Apple Intelligence experiences for users in China. Reuters-linked reporting also says Apple is in earlier discussions with major Chinese AI firms such as Tencent and ByteDance for model integration, although the latest regulatory approval coverage centers on Alibaba and Baidu. Several sources note that Apple has not publicly confirmed a specific launch date, and the timing may depend on implementation and regulatory steps. Authorities also require generative AI products to be cleared before public release.
Apple Intelligence approved in China to run with Alibaba and Baidu AI models
Apple receives regulatory approval in China to roll out Apple Intelligence on iPhones, after a lengthy review under China’s rules for generative AI services. Multiple outlets report that China’s cyber...
- China’s cyberspace regulator grants approval for Apple Intelligence to be used on iPhones in China.
- Apple Intelligence in China is set to use AI models provided by Alibaba and Baidu (including Alibaba’s Qwen).
- The approval follows China’s regulatory requirement for generative AI services to receive clearance before public release.
- Apple Intelligence features are described as supporting tasks like summarising, drafting, image editing, and other AI functions.
- Reuters-linked reporting also describes ongoing or earlier talks involving additional Chinese AI firms (including Tencent and ByteDance) for integration.
The deal, which was rumored to be in the works last year, marks an important step for Apple's AI ambitions in a key market.
1 month agoChina's cyberspace regulator has approved Apple Intelligence for use on iPhones, with AI capabilities set to be powered by Alibaba's Qwen and Baidu's models for users in the country
1 month agoApple's artificial intelligence service has received approval for release in China. Chinese regulators granted Apple a license to roll out its AI service. Alibaba and Baidu will serve as technical partners for Apple's AI. This clearance allows Apple to tap into China's keen AI technology market. The service could become available to iPhone users later this year or early 2027.
1 month agoBen Jiang, reporting from Beijing for the South China Morning Post: Chinese regulators have granted Apple a long-awaited licence to roll out its artificial intelligence service on iPhones in the country, with Alibaba Group Holding and Baidu serving as technical partners. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s internet watchdog, published a notice on Wednesday confirming the licence for Apple Intelligence — the AI feature used to summarise emails, draft reports, edit images and perform other tasks. It was granted alongside six other smartphone-based AI services, including those for Samsung and Huawei Technologies. An Alibaba representative told the South China Morning Post on Wednesday that its Qwen large-language model would “be integrated into Apple Intelligence experiences within iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS for users in China”. This would allow users to access the model’s capabilities such as text and image generation, the representative said. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. A Baidu representative also told the SCMP on Wednesday that it was working with Apple to develop AI features for Apple Intelligence in China. This isn’t about Siri AI, announced last month at WWDC for iOS 27 — this is the initial approval for Apple Intelligence, which was announced two years ago and rolled out in iOS 18. It’s unclear in any of this coverage today whether this is a green light for Siri AI this year too. ★
1 month agoSince Apple's initial Apple Intelligence rollout, the system has been overhauled for iOS 27, which will be widely released this fall.
1 month agoWhile you may very well have been underwhelmed by Apple Intelligence, at least you had access to it. That hasn't been the case for those in China so far, even as we are now 21 months after the initial launch. However, that is finally about to change. Apple Intelligence has now received the green light from the Chinese government. The service has been registered with the Chinese cyberspace regulator for use on iPhones in the country. All AI products need to undergo this step before they can be offered in China. In China, Apple Intelligence will allegedly "incorporate capabilities...
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