Apple clears China AI launch with Alibaba and Baidu

Apple Intelligence is finally headed to China. According to Reuters, China’s internet content regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China, approved Apple’s AI services after a deal to integrate Alibaba’s Qwen model into Apple’s operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS.

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Later on Wednesday, a Baidu spokesperson told TechCrunch that the company is also working with Apple on developing Apple Intelligence features for users in China. That suggests both rumored partnerships remain active, even after earlier reports said Baidu had struggled to adapt its models for Chinese customers.

The Alibaba tie-up, rumored last year, is a significant move for Apple in one of its most important markets. In the second quarter, Apple reported $20.5 billion in sales in Greater China, up 28% from a year earlier. The company also recently regained its No. 2 spot in China’s smartphone market after discounts on the iPhone lineup during a shopping festival.

Apple had also explored integrations with DeepSeek and models from ByteDance, according to earlier reports. Those discussions contributed to delays in bringing Apple Intelligence, which debuted in 2024, to China.

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Alibaba previously confirmed the arrangement to CNBC, saying Qwen would be “integrated into Apple Intelligence experiences,” though it did not give a launch timeframe. The company said the integration would support AI features including text and image understanding and generation.

The original version of the story was published on July 15 and updated on Thursday, July 16, with Baidu’s statement.