Apple Intelligence Breaks Ground in China, Empowered by Alibaba’s Qwen AI
In a monumental development for both Apple and the worldwide AI sector, Apple Intelligence has secured regulatory approval in China. This comes nearly 22 months after its initial announcement. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) greenlit the service on July 15, 2026. Alibaba has confirmed that its robust Qwen AI model will be the driving force behind Apple Intelligence across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS for users in China.
This agreement marks a significant milestone for Apple, which has been maneuvering through China’s stringent generative AI regulations since 2024. As per Chinese law, foreign entities must utilize a domestically approved AI model rather than implementing their own. This makes Alibaba’s Qwen the mastermind behind Apple’s AI suite in the world’s second-largest smartphone market. The integration will enable Chinese users to tap into Qwen’s text and image comprehension and generation capabilities directly within Apple’s native interface, eliminating the need to switch between apps.
The financial markets responded with enthusiasm. Alibaba’s U.S.-listed shares saw a surge of over 6% post the announcement, and Apple’s stock also experienced an uptick. The approval comes at a crucial time as Apple’s sales in Greater China witnessed a 28% increase to $20.5 billion in the most recent quarter. The deal further underscores the escalating complexity of US-China tech relations. Alibaba has concurrently prohibited its own employees from using Anthropic’s Claude AI, while US legislators consider laws to limit American companies’ reliance on Chinese AI models.
Source: TechCrunch — Apple Intelligence approved for launch in China with Alibaba’s Qwen AI