Apple has reportedly trained its own customized large language model specifically for the Chinese market with technical and infrastructure support from Alibaba Group.
In a departure from its strategy of relying on third-party models in China, Apple has trained a custom large language model specifically for the Chinese market, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The AI model was built in partnership with Alibaba Group and trained with the tech giant’s support, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive, non-public nature of the information.
The joint effort marks an unreported shift in strategy for Apple, which previously relied on local partners’ models to introduce generative AI features on Chinese devices. In Western markets, Apple integrates its proprietary technology with models like Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s ChatGPT options currently unavailable in China. Neither Apple nor Alibaba responded to requests for comment.
Sources indicate that Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of AI features, is slated to launch in China in the coming months via a forthcoming iOS software update.
Developing an in-house, China-tailored model gives Apple greater control over the AI user experience in its most competitive overseas market, where local rivals like Huawei have gained ground with AI-equipped smartphones.
By deploying Apple Intelligence globally via its own models and integration with Western partners like OpenAI while relying on local state-approved AI partners like Baidu within mainland China, Apple effectively splits its software architecture to comply with the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
Approval from Beijing would make Apple the first foreign company permitted to offer a proprietary AI model in China a rare cross-border collaboration between U.S. and Chinese tech giants amid escalating geopolitical and trade friction over AI.
The development follows a lengthy approval process that concluded last month, when the Cyberspace Administration of China officially registered Apple’s generative AI service paving the way for Apple Intelligence to launch on Chinese iPhones for the first time.
Under the approved arrangement, Alibaba’s Qwen model will power Apple Intelligence across compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro devices in China, while search and additional features will integrate technology from Baidu.
A Chinese-language guide explaining how eligible Mac users in mainland China could connect Alibaba’s Qwen model to Siri and Writing Tools was briefly published on Apple’s support site before being quietly removed without explanation. The brief posting highlights Apple’s efforts to compete in China’s growing AI PC market.
News of the July registration sent Alibaba’s U.S.-listed shares up roughly 4% in premarket trading, reflecting strong investor belief that the partnership could reshape China’s AI landscape.
The Apple-Alibaba alliance was first publicly confirmed in February 2025 by Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, where he revealed that Apple had chosen Alibaba to power its AI features on iPhones in China.
See also: Taiwan Confirms Autonomous AI Cyberattack by Foreign Hacker on Government System
“They talked to a number of companies in China. In the end, they chose to do business with us,” Tsai said at the time. The planned rollout was subsequently delayed while Apple worked to adapt its features to comply with strict Chinese regulations.
Greater China remains crucial to Apple’s bottom line, representing a substantial portion of its global revenue. The absence of native AI features on Chinese iPhones has been highlighted as a key drag on sales as local consumers switch to domestic brands with built-in AI assistants.
It remains unclear how Apple’s self-trained model will operate alongside domestic options like Alibaba’s Qwen and Baidu, or how the systems will divide technical tasks.
