Artificial Intelligence

Alibaba AI Cleared for Apple Intelligence in China

Apple’s integrated AI system is set to arrive in mainland China after receiving regulatory clearance for Alibaba’s models. The approval coincides with network access permits for the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro, signaling a near‑term rollout.

Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer

Published: October 15, 2026 · Updated: October 15, 2026 · 3 min read

Alibaba AI Cleared for Apple Intelligence in China — Image: Engadget

Regulatory Approval

According to Engadget, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has granted regulatory approval for Alibaba’s AI models to power Apple Intelligence in the mainland.

The authorization covers the Tongyi Qianwen family of large language models, better known as Qwen, as well as the Tongyi Wanxiang AI‑generated image and video tool.

As reported by the South China Morning Post, which is owned by the Alibaba Group, the clearance allows Apple to integrate these models into its AI suite for compatible devices sold in China.

Product Implications

The South China Morning Post noted that Apple had already received clearance to roll out Apple Intelligence on the Chinese mainland back in July, but the company had not yet activated the service.

Updated regulatory filings now include network access permits for the iPhone Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro, indicating that hardware readiness is in place.

The iPhone Duo is set to launch in China next week, with the new and improved Siri AI highlighted as a flagship software feature.

Market Context

Much of Apple Intelligence's feature set is already available in Hong Kong, but the mainland's complex AI and privacy laws have required Apple to be patient about bringing what is now a core feature to one of its fastest‑growing markets.

Apple had previously obtained clearance to launch Apple Intelligence in China in July, as indicated by the clearance link, but had delayed deployment pending the current approvals.

The upcoming rollout will arrive almost exactly two years after the service first launched in the United States, where Apple has worked with both Google and OpenAI to train its models and handle complex queries.

iPhone Duo in hand — Image related to the report from Engadget · Source: Engadget

Historical Background

Reports that Apple would seek to work with Chinese AI firms for a workaround to bring Apple Intelligence to the country first emerged as far back as early 2025, with Alibaba named at the time.

Back in the summer of 2025, it was confirmed that Qwen would be central to Apple Intelligence in compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro models sold to Chinese customers.

The recent regulatory decision validates those earlier expectations and clears the final hurdle for a mainland launch.

Outlook

With the iPhone Duo scheduled to debut next week and the iPhone 18 Pro also cleared for network access, Apple is poised to introduce its AI suite to Chinese consumers in the immediate future.

The integration of Alibaba’s Qwen LLMs and Wanxiang tools is expected to enhance Siri’s capabilities, offering improved natural‑language understanding and generative features tailored to local preferences.

Analysts view the move as a significant step in expanding Apple’s AI footprint in a market that represents a major share of global smartphone sales, potentially boosting both device uptake and services revenue.