Apple Intelligence support in China was having a difficult time finding a strong footing, with a multitude of reports stating that a partnership with Tencent or ByteDance was imperative to bring generative AI features to iPhones in the region. DeepSeek was also an option for Apple, but it was reported that the technology giant ditched the AI startup’s chatbot in favor of Alibaba. As it so happens, the latter’s chairman has made an official announcement regarding the partnership to bring Apple Intelligence to compatible devices in China.
Chairman of Alibaba group made the Apple Intelligence alliance official at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, making it a public confirmation
Like DeepSeek, Alibaba also makes open-source AI models that are available for the masses to use for free or modify to suit their needs. Additionally, the company produces advanced AI models that are closed-source. As reported by the South China Morning Post, with the introduction of its Qwen2.5 series in September of last year, Alibaba released more than 100 open-source models with parameters ranging from 500 million to 72 billion. The height of the company’s capabilities in artificial intelligence likely attracted Apple to close a deal with the multinational technology firm.
During the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Alibaba Group’s chairman, Joe Tsai, confirmed the company’s partnership in bringing Apple Intelligence to China, resulting in its stock price rising to a three-year high. This tag-team will be exceptionally beneficial to the iPhone maker, as Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted that countries, where its generative AI features were supported by compatible devices, saw an uptick in iPhone 16 sales, which might also be the reason why revenue from China dropped in the latest Q1 2025 earnings report.
While there is no confirmation on when Apple Intelligence will officially launch in China, we believe that the rollout time required will be reduced substantially because of the country’s strong regulations that require the partnership of a local company. This hurdle would also explain why ChatGPT cannot be integrated with Apple Intelligence in China. With the new announcement, the Cupertino firm has managed to scale an imposing obstacle and could obtain an edge in a market that witnesses the highest smartphone shipment by volume.
News Source: South China Morning Post
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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