Apple Intelligence Finally Cleared to Launch in China
Apple Intelligence has been approved by Chinese regulators, opening the door for the AI system to reach iPhones in the country for the first time. Reuters reports that China's Cyberspace Administration registered Apple's on-device generative AI service this week, putting it on a list of newly cleared providers that also includes homegrown systems from Chinese phone makers.
Apple Intelligencehas been approved by Chinese regulators, opening the door for the AI system to reach iPhones in the country for the first time. Reutersreports that China's Cyberspace Administration registered Apple's on-device generative AI service this week, putting it on a list of newly cleared providers that also includes homegrown systems from Chinese phone makers. An unnamed source told the outlet that Apple's AI features in the country will draw on models from both Baidu and Alibaba. In February 2025, Alibaba was reported to be building the primary system and Baidu contributing on a smaller scale. Alibaba confirmed its part of the arrangement directly, tellingReutersthat its Qwen model will power Apple Intelligence functions across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS for Chinese users, including both text and image generation. No launch date has been given, though approval typically precedes a rollout by only a few months, putting a China debut roughly in line with Apple's usual fall software release cycle. Apple actuallybriefly switched the features on earlyfor some Chinese users back in March, months ahead of getting the green light, and afeedback form aimed at Chinese usersappeared on Apple's site late last year as the company inched closer to approval. iPhone shipments in Chinaclimbed 24. 4 percent year-over-yearin the second quarter, making Apple the fastest-growing smartphone brand in a market that otherwise kept shrinking. A working version of Apple Intelligence could help sustain that momentum, though Apple is still catching up to domestic rivals that built AI features into their phones well before it did. Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in ourPolitical Newsforum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts. Popular StoriesApple Faces New App Store Complaint From Chinese DevelopersA group of 48 China-based iOS developers have filed an antitrust complaint against Apple with the country's market regulator over the App Store's commission rates, the South China Morning Post reports. The developers sent an open letter to China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), alleging that Apple failed to deliver on a promise to offer the lowest commission rate to the. . . Apple in Talks to Buy Memory Chips From Chinese Makers CXMT and YMTCWednesday July 1, 2026 2:06 pm PDT byJuli CloverApple is in talks to buy memory from Chinese semiconductor companies ChangXin Memory Technologies Co. (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC), reports Bloomberg, citing sources with knowledge of the talks. Discussions between Apple and the chipmakers are ongoing, and no deal has been finalized yet. Financial Times previously reported Apple was looking into working with CXMT and. . . Apple Begins Testing Controversial Chinese Memory ChipsApple is testing DRAM memory chips from China's state-backed ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), according to a new report from the Financial Times. Last week, it emerged that Apple was in discussions with CXMT and fellow Chinese chipmaker Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) about sourcing memory, with no deal finalized. The new details suggest Apple has since progressed to qualifying CXMT's . . .