Apple Intelligence appears close to official release in China after a new regulatory filing. According to Reuters, China's cyberspace regulator has registered the service for use on iPhones, marking a major hurdle cleared after more than two years of effort.

The development follows Alibaba's mid-June 2026 announcement that its latest Qwen AI model is compatible with Apple Intelligence. Alibaba confirmed Qwen will be integrated when the service launches for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro users in China. Reports also indicate Baidu technologies will be incorporated for specific functions like Visual Intelligence.

China's complex regulatory requirements for generative AI and data privacy have necessitated local partnerships. US firms typically need Chinese partners with existing approvals, as OpenAI remains banned. Apple's brief accidental activation of Apple Intelligence in March 2026 suggested technical readiness, with only regulatory approval pending.

Neither Apple nor Alibaba has commented on the regulator's listing beyond confirming presumed details. The registration appears to be the final step toward launch, though official confirmation is still awaited.