AI
Apple trains China-specific AI model with Alibaba
Apple trained a China-specific AI model with Alibaba’s help as it prepares to launch Apple Intelligence in the country after an iOS update.
Apple has trained a China-specific large language model with help from Alibaba, according to MacRumors, marking a shift away from relying solely on domestic third-party models to power Apple Intelligence in the country.
The custom model is expected to support Apple Intelligence in China in the coming months, with The Verge reporting that the rollout should follow an iOS update. Reuters, cited by both outlets, says the model was trained with Alibaba’s support and that three unnamed people familiar with the matter provided the information.
Apple previously agreed with Chinese regulators to incorporate Alibaba’s Qwen model into Apple Intelligence, much as it offers ChatGPT as an extension in other markets. The company also briefly published a Chinese support guide explaining how Mac users could connect Qwen to Siri and Writing Tools, but removed it less than a day later.
The move gives Apple more control over its AI features in China, where US models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT are unavailable and AI systems must be registered and cleared by the government before public release. The Verge reports that Apple registered its on-device generative AI service with China’s cyberspace regulator in July 2026, clearing a major regulatory hurdle.
The sources differ slightly on the significance of the approval. MacRumors describes Apple as the first foreign company approved to offer a proprietary AI model in China, while The Verge characterizes it as the first US company to receive that approval. Neither report identifies the model’s name, capabilities, or whether it will run fully on-device.
Apple did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.