Apple Wins China’s AI Green Light by Leaning on Alibaba and Baidu

• Early hurdles and regulatory roadblock
• Registration and official approval
• Alibaba deal unlocks Apple Intelligence
• Baidu and broader local partnerships
• Strategic stakes for Apple and Chinese partners

Apple Wins China’s AI Green Light by Leaning on Alibaba and Baidu
Apple’s flagship AI push has finally broken through China’s regulatory wall, but only by relying on local tech giants to power key features.

§Early hurdles and regulatory roadblock

Apple introduced Apple Intelligence globally in 2024, but Chinese users were left waiting as the company struggled to adapt its own models to local rules and content controls, leading to delays in bringing the features to China. During this period, Apple reportedly explored tie-ups with Baidu, DeepSeek and ByteDance, without reaching a workable solution.

§Registration and official approval

That stalemate ended in mid-July 2026, when Apple’s on‑device generative AI service was officially registered with China’s cyberspace regulator, clearing “a major hurdle for device rollout.” Reuters first reported that the Cyberspace Administration of China had approved Apple’s AI services in the country.

§Alibaba deal unlocks Apple Intelligence

The breakthrough came via a long‑rumored deal to integrate Alibaba’s Qwen AI models directly into Apple’s operating systems — including iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS. Alibaba told CNBC that Qwen will be “integrated into Apple Intelligence experiences” to provide capabilities like “text and image understanding and generation,” though it did not give a launch timeline.

§Baidu and broader local partnerships

Shortly after news of the approval, Baidu confirmed it is also working with Apple on developing Apple Intelligence features tailored for Chinese users, joining Qwen as part of a multi‑model local stack. Reports say Apple is “tapping domestic tech giants” and integrating both Alibaba’s Qwen and Baidu’s AI models “to power the experience for Chinese users.”

§Strategic stakes for Apple and Chinese partners

The approval marks “an important step for Apple’s AI ambitions in a key market,” where Greater China sales rose 28% year over year to $20.5 billion and Apple recently regained the No. 2 spot in smartphones. For Alibaba, investors quickly signaled optimism: U.S. shares climbed more than 6% on news of the Apple deal.

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