Apple Intelligence Nears China Launch as Regulators Back Alibaba AI

China’s telecommunications regulator has formally approved the use of Alibaba Group’s Tongyi large-language models as the domestic backbone for Apple Intelligence, removing a final regulatory barrier to the feature’s rollout in mainland China. The approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology covers the Qwen language models and the Tongyi Wanxiang image and video generation tool, according to filings reviewed by the South China Morning Post.

The clearance arrives more than two years after Apple Intelligence debuted in the United States, where the company relies on OpenAI and Google to handle cloud-based requests. Apple received permission to operate the service earlier this year but hesitated to activate it, navigating a fragmented landscape of generative AI regulation that governs training data, output censorship, and cross-border information transfers.

Apple AI features in the region will route eligible queries through the approved local partner rather than international cloud infrastructure. This structure complies with data sovereignty requirements that prevent sensitive user information from leaving Chinese servers. It marks a significant shift from the U.S. deployment, where processing blends on-device and external compute.

The regulatory green light aligns with Apple’s upcoming hardware refresh in the region. A new flagship iPhone is scheduled to arrive next week, positioning the updated Siri assistant as a primary selling point. This iPhone launch marks a key opportunity to showcase the new voice assistant capabilities to consumers who previously lacked access.

MIIT approval is not a formality for foreign technology firms. Companies seeking to offer public generative AI services in China must submit detailed filings regarding model weights, safety testing, and data sources. The Qwen models were among the first large-scale domestic foundation models to clear these hurdles, establishing a precedent for foreign technology firms seeking local AI capabilities.

Apple has long sought a workaround for its core AI suite in China. Initial reports from early 2025 identified the Hangzhou-based group as the likely partner for compatible iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Vision Pro devices sold in the region. Hong Kong users already access most Apple Intelligence features, though the mainland’s stricter privacy laws have kept the service offline in that market.

The partnership highlights the growing friction in the global AI ecosystem. While Western developers integrate with global models, Chinese users will see a localized version of Siri and image tools that operate within the country’s content safety framework. The move also deepens ties between Apple and one of Asia’s largest cloud infrastructure providers.

Apple has not yet confirmed a specific activation date for the service. However, updated network access permits filed for the upcoming Pro models suggest the feature will enable automatically upon device update.