Apple Intelligence has received approval from Chinese regulators, allowing the on‑device generative‑AI service to reach iPhones in the country for the first time. Reuters reports that the Cyberspace Administration registered Apple’s system, adding it to a list that now includes homegrown Chinese makers.

An unnamed source said Apple will draw on models from Baidu and Alibaba. In February 2025, Alibaba was reported to build the primary system, with Baidu contributing on a smaller scale. Alibaba confirmed the partnership, stating its Qwen model will power Apple Intelligence across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS for Chinese users.

Although no launch date has been announced, approval typically precedes rollout by a few months, suggesting a fall release that aligns with Apple’s usual software cycle. Apple briefly enabled the features for some Chinese users in March, months before the green light, and a feedback form appeared last year.

iPhone shipments in China climbed 24.4 percent year‑over‑year in Q2, making Apple the fastest‑growing smartphone brand in a shrinking market. A fully functional Apple Intelligence could sustain that momentum, though Apple still lags domestic rivals that integrated AI features earlier.