Apple has trained a large language model specifically for the Chinese market, developed in partnership with Alibaba, according to three sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters. AAPL stock was up 1% at $305.26 at the time of reporting.
The move marks a departure from Apple’s earlier strategy of relying entirely on third-party domestic models to power AI features on iPhones and other devices sold in China.
Apple Intelligence has not been available on Chinese iPhones, and that gap has been cited as a factor weighing on Apple’s competitiveness in the market, where local rivals like Huawei have pushed ahead with AI-equipped handsets.
The China-specific model was trained with Alibaba’s support. The exact role it will play alongside third-party models from Alibaba and Baidu has not been confirmed.
The arrangement gives Apple a dual-track approach: a proprietary model combined with locally approved third-party systems. That structure is designed to meet China’s strict regulatory requirements while keeping Apple in control of the user experience.
China’s Cyberspace Administration registered Apple’s generative AI service last month, clearing the path for Apple Intelligence to launch in China via an iOS update in the coming months.
Under the approved arrangement, Alibaba’s Qwen model will be built into the version of Apple Intelligence that ships with compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro devices in China. Baidu technology is also expected to be included.
Last week, Apple published a Chinese-language guide showing eligible Mac users in mainland China how to connect Qwen to Siri and Writing Tools. Apple has since removed that guide without explanation.
If the rollout proceeds as planned, Apple would become the first foreign company approved by Beijing to offer a proprietary AI model in China. That would be a rare example of U.S.-China tech collaboration at a time when trade and diplomatic tensions between the two countries remain high.
Apple and Alibaba confirmed their partnership in February 2025, when Alibaba chairman Joe Tsai said at the World Governments Summit in Dubai that Apple had chosen Alibaba to power AI on its Chinese iPhones.
When Alibaba’s arrangement with Apple was first reported in July, Alibaba’s U.S.-listed stock climbed around 4% in premarket trading.
China is one of Apple’s most important markets. Local smartphone brands have moved quickly to integrate AI features, and the absence of Apple Intelligence on Chinese devices has been seen as a competitive disadvantage.
Apple and Alibaba did not respond to requests for comment on the Reuters report
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