Apple Trains China-Specific AI Model With Alibaba Support
Apple has trained a large language model specifically for the China market, marking a shift from its previous strategy of relying on third-party models to power AI features in the country, according to three people familiar with the matter.
The model was developed in partnership with Alibaba Group and trained with support from the Chinese technology company, the people said. They declined to be named because the information is sensitive and has not been made public.
Apple’s development of a China-specific model has not previously been reported. The company had instead relied on domestic partners’ models to bring generative AI features to iPhones and other devices sold in China.
US models such as Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which Apple pairs with its own technology in its home market, are not available in China.
Apple and Alibaba did not respond to requests for comment.
Apple Intelligence, Apple’s suite of AI tools, is expected to launch in China in the coming months following an update to its iOS operating system, according to the people.
Apple Seeks Greater Control Over China AI
A China-specific model developed by Apple would give the company greater control over the AI experience in one of its most competitive overseas markets.
Apple has lost ground in China to domestic rivals such as Huawei, which have moved quickly to introduce AI-equipped smartphones.
The planned rollout represents a dual-track approach to AI deployment for a foreign company operating in China. Apple would combine its own model with technology from domestic partners while navigating the country’s regulatory requirements.
The strategy could also make Apple the first foreign company approved by Beijing to offer a proprietary AI model in China. Such an arrangement would represent an unusual collaboration between US and Chinese technology companies amid growing trade and diplomatic tensions over AI.
Regulatory Hurdles Cleared
The move follows a lengthy regulatory process that ended last month. China’s Cyberspace Administration registered Apple’s generative AI service, clearing the way for Apple Intelligence to reach Chinese iPhones for the first time.
Under the arrangement, Alibaba’s Qwen model will be incorporated into the Chinese version of Apple Intelligence. The service was also set to include technology from Baidu, according to an earlier Reuters report.
Last week, Apple published a Chinese-language guide explaining how eligible Mac users in mainland China could connect Qwen to Siri and the Writing Tools feature.
The Mac-specific arrangement could help Apple compete in China’s AI PC market. However, Apple later deleted the guide without explaining why.
Alibaba’s US-listed shares rose about 4% in premarket trading following news of the July registration. The move highlighted investor expectations that the partnership could influence China’s AI ecosystem.
Apple Looks To AI For A Boost In China
Apple’s partnership with Alibaba was first confirmed in February 2025. Alibaba chairman Joe Tsai said at the World Governments Summit in Dubai that Apple would use Alibaba’s AI to power its phones in China.
The rollout was subsequently delayed as Apple worked to adapt its AI features to Chinese regulations.
China remains critical to Apple’s business and accounts for a significant share of its revenue. Meanwhile, the lack of AI features on Chinese iPhones has been cited as one factor weighing on sales.
Chinese consumers have increasingly turned towards domestic brands that offer built-in AI assistants. Therefore, Apple’s planned AI rollout could help the company strengthen its position in the market.
However, it remains unclear how Apple’s self-trained model will operate alongside third-party Chinese models. The precise way those systems will work together has also not been disclosed.
With inputs from Reuters