By COMFORT OGBONNA
Apple has developed a large language model specifically for the Chinese market as the company prepares to bring its Apple Intelligence artificial intelligence features to consumers in China, according to people familiar with the matter.
The move represents a shift in Apple’s approach to artificial intelligence in China. Rather than relying entirely on models developed by local technology companies, Apple has trained its own model for the market with support from Alibaba Group, giving the iPhone maker greater control over how its AI technology operates in the country.
The China-specific model was developed in partnership with Alibaba, which provided support during the training process, according to people familiar with the work. They asked not to be identified because the details have not been publicly announced.
Apple has previously relied on domestic technology partners to help bring generative AI capabilities to its devices in China. The company faces restrictions that prevent many U.S.-based AI services from operating normally in the Chinese market.
Services such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, which are available in other markets and can work alongside Apple’s own technology, are not broadly available to Chinese consumers.
Apple Intelligence is expected to become available in China in the coming months following an update to Apple’s operating system, according to the people familiar with the company’s plans.
The launch could be strategically important for Apple as it attempts to strengthen its position in one of its most important and competitive international markets.
Apple has faced growing pressure from Chinese smartphone manufacturers, particularly companies that have moved quickly to integrate artificial intelligence into their devices. Domestic rivals have increasingly promoted AI-powered smartphones and digital assistants as selling points, raising pressure on Apple to provide similar features to Chinese consumers.
A proprietary model designed specifically for China could allow Apple to exercise more control over its AI products while also meeting the country’s regulatory requirements.
The company is pursuing what amounts to a dual-track approach. Apple is developing its own China-specific AI model while continuing to work with local technology companies whose systems can be incorporated into Apple Intelligence.
That strategy could help Apple navigate China’s extensive regulatory requirements for generative AI services while maintaining greater control over the user experience.
The approach also highlights the unusual nature of the cooperation between major U.S. and Chinese technology companies at a time when Washington and Beijing remain locked in a broader economic and technological rivalry.
The development follows a lengthy regulatory process for Apple’s AI service in China. Chinese authorities recently registered Apple’s generative AI service, clearing an important hurdle for the company to introduce Apple Intelligence on compatible devices in the country.
Under the arrangement, Alibaba’s Qwen model is expected to be incorporated into the Chinese version of Apple Intelligence. Apple has also been working with Baidu on technology for its AI services in China.
The company’s efforts extend beyond the iPhone. Apple has been exploring ways to bring AI capabilities to Macs and other devices as competition intensifies in China’s personal computer and consumer electronics markets.
Apple recently published a Chinese-language guide explaining how eligible Mac users in mainland China could connect Alibaba’s Qwen AI service with features including Siri and Writing Tools. The company later removed the guide without publicly explaining why.
The partnership between Apple and Alibaba was first publicly confirmed in early 2025, when Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai said Apple had selected the Chinese technology company to provide AI technology for its devices sold in China.
The rollout was subsequently delayed as Apple worked to adapt its AI features to Chinese regulations and requirements.
China remains a critical market for Apple, accounting for a substantial portion of the company’s global business. The absence of Apple Intelligence on Chinese iPhones has been viewed as a disadvantage as consumers increasingly encounter smartphones from domestic manufacturers equipped with AI assistants and other artificial intelligence features.
Apple’s ability to offer competitive AI tools in China could therefore have implications beyond the technology itself. The company is seeking to maintain consumer interest in the iPhone at a time when Chinese smartphone makers are competing aggressively on hardware, software and artificial intelligence.
It remains unclear exactly how Apple’s newly trained China-specific model will operate alongside Alibaba’s Qwen and other third-party models being considered or incorporated into Apple Intelligence.
The final structure of Apple’s AI system in China could depend on regulatory requirements, technical considerations and the company’s agreements with its Chinese partners.
For Apple, developing its own model represents a significant expansion of its AI strategy in China. The company must balance its desire for greater control over its technology with the regulatory realities of operating in the world’s second-largest economy.
The outcome could determine how effectively Apple competes in China’s rapidly developing AI-powered smartphone market and could provide a model for how other foreign technology companies attempt to introduce advanced artificial intelligence services under China’s regulatory framework.
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