Apple Trains Its Own AI Model for China Market with Alibaba's Support

Apple has taken a significant step in its efforts to boost sales in the Chinese market by training a large language model specifically designed for the country. This move marks a departure from the company’s previous strategy of relying on third-party models to power AI features in China, according to sources familiar with the matter. The new AI model was developed in partnership with Alibaba Group and trained with the tech giant’s support, allowing Apple to gain greater control over the AI experience for its users in this critical market.

The training of a China-specific model is a crucial development for Apple, which has struggled to compete with local rivals like Huawei that have made significant strides in integrating AI into their handsets. The absence of AI features on Chinese iPhones had been cited as a factor weighing on sales, as consumers increasingly turned to domestic brands offering built-in AI assistants.

Apple’s partnership with Alibaba was first confirmed in February 2025, when the Chinese company’s chairman Joe Tsai spoke at the World Governments Summit in Dubai and revealed that Apple would use its AI technology to power phones in China. The rollout of this collaboration has been delayed due to Apple’s need to adapt its features to comply with Chinese regulations.

The move follows a lengthy regulatory process that ended last month, when the Cyberspace Administration of China registered Apple’s generative AI service, clearing the way for Apple Intelligence to reach Chinese iPhones for the first time. This registration is significant, as it marks one of the rare collaborations between U.S. and Chinese tech firms amid a widening trade and diplomatic rift over AI.

Under this arrangement, Alibaba’s Qwen model will be incorporated into the version of Apple Intelligence that ships with compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro models in China. The service was also set to incorporate technology from Baidu, as reported by Reuters in July. This integration is expected to help Apple compete more effectively in China’s AI PC market.

Apple has published a Chinese-language guide explaining how eligible Mac users in mainland China can connect Qwen to its Siri digital assistant and Writing Tools feature. However, the company subsequently deleted this guide without providing an explanation, leaving some questions about its plans for integrating AI into its products in China.

The partnership between Apple and Alibaba is expected to reshape China’s AI ecosystem, with investor expectations suggesting that it could have a significant impact on the market. This collaboration marks a unique dual-track strategy on AI deployment for a foreign firm in China, allowing Apple to navigate steep regulatory hurdles that have limited access for many other U.S. technology firms.

Apple Intelligence is expected to launch in China in the coming months after an update to its iOS operating system. The company’s training of its own China-specific model gives it greater control over the AI experience on iPhones and other devices sold in this critical market, where local rivals have made significant gains with their built-in AI assistants.

China remains a crucial market for Apple, accounting for a significant share of its revenue. The absence of AI features on Chinese iPhones had been cited as a factor weighing on sales, making the integration of these capabilities essential to the company’s success in this region.