Apple integrates Alibaba’s Qwen AI for Chinese market rollout
Apple is set to deploy Apple Intelligence in China starting November 4, incorporating Alibaba’s Qwen model for Siri and text processing on iPhone 18 Pro devices.
Apple has announced the debut of Apple Intelligence features for users in China, beginning with a beta release on November 4 for iPhone 18 Pro models. A wider rollout is scheduled for December with the release of iOS 27.3.
The update marks the official integration of Alibaba’s Qwen large language model into the Apple ecosystem in China. The model will power core features including Siri requests, system-wide writing tools, and visual intelligence, assisting users with tasks such as document analysis and image comprehension.
Users will be able to access the service via Qwen account authentication or Apple’s standard login protocols. The operational structure mirrors Apple’s global partnership with OpenAI, ensuring that requests are handled according to user privacy preferences and specific data protection policies.
This deployment represents a shift in Apple’s strategy for the Chinese market, relying on local AI providers to navigate regulatory requirements while maintaining the functional scope of its personal intelligence suite.