Apple Intelligence gets China approval, Alibaba's Qwen to power AI features

Apple Intelligence, Apple's generative AI platform, is finally headed to China. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that China's Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has approved Apple's AI services in the country and also cleared the company's partnership with Alibaba to integrate its Qwen large language model into Apple's operating systems across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro.

The approval marks a significant milestone for Apple's AI ambitions in China. An Alibaba spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that the Qwen model will power Apple Intelligence across Apple's major platforms for users in China. The integration will allow users to access Qwen's text and image generation capabilities directly through Apple's interface, eliminating the need to switch to a separate application.

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Apple is also reportedly working with Baidu to develop additional Apple Intelligence features tailored for Chinese iPhone users, according to Reuters. Regulatory requirements had delayed the rollout of Apple Intelligence in China following its global announcement in 2024, making local AI partnerships essential for the company's entry into the market.

The approval comes as Apple's business in China shows signs of recovery. The company reported that its shipments in the second quarter were up 24.4% year-over-year, reversing a period of slowing demand in one of its most important markets.

The clearance also arrives amid intensifying technology competition between the United States and China. Alibaba recently prohibited employees from using Anthropic's AI tools, while lawmakers in the US are reportedly considering legislation that would restrict American companies from relying on Chinese AI technologies.