Apple has received regulatory approval to launch Apple Intelligence in China, paving the way for its generative AI features to become available in one of the company's largest markets through partnerships with Alibaba and Baidu.

According to reports, China's Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) approved Apple's AI services following an agreement to integrate Alibaba's Qwen AI model into Apple's operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS.

Alibaba and Baidu to Power Local AI Features

Alibaba confirmed that its Qwen large language models will power Apple Intelligence experiences for users in China.

The company said the integration will support AI capabilities such as text generation, image generation, and image understanding, although it did not disclose a rollout timeline.

Separately, Baidu also confirmed it is collaborating with Apple to develop Apple Intelligence features for Chinese users, further strengthening Apple's local AI ecosystem.

Previous reports suggested Apple was also evaluating partnerships with DeepSeek and ByteDance as it explored options for complying with China's AI regulations.

Approval Opens the Door to a Key Market

Apple Intelligence, first introduced in 2024, has not been available in China because of local regulatory requirements governing generative AI services.

The approval removes a significant barrier to Apple's AI strategy in the country, allowing the company to introduce its AI-powered features to Chinese users.

The development comes as Apple strengthens its position in the Chinese smartphone market. During the second quarter, the company generated US$20.5 billion in revenue from Greater China, representing 28% year-on-year growth, while recently reclaiming the second-largest share of China's smartphone market following promotional discounts on its iPhone lineup.

The launch is expected to help Apple compete more effectively in China's rapidly evolving AI landscape by combining its own AI capabilities with locally approved large language models.