Apple takes Alibaba’s support for training China-specific AI model: Report

A representative image.Apple has trained a large language model specifically for the Chinese market with support from Alibaba Group, as per a Reuters report.

The move marks a shift from Apple’s earlier approach of relying on third-party models to power its artificial intelligence features in China.

Developing a model specifically for China could give Apple greater control over its AI offering in the country, where it faces competition from local smartphone makers including Huawei.Apple and Alibaba developed the model with support from the Chinese technology company, people aware of the matter told Reuters.

They declined to be named because the information is not public.The company had earlier been working with domestic technology companies to bring generative AI features to iPhones and other devices sold in China, where US models such as Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s ChatGPT are not available.Apple and Alibaba did not respond to requests for comment.Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of AI features, is expected to launch in China in the coming months following an update to its iOS operating system, the people said.Regulatory approval clears path for Apple IntelligenceApple’s planned rollout follows a regulatory process that concluded last month when China’s Cyberspace Administration registered Apple’s generative AI service, clearing the way for Apple Intelligence to become available on Chinese iPhones.Under the arrangement, Alibaba’s Qwen model is expected to be incorporated into Apple Intelligence for compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro devices in China.

The service was also expected to include technology from Baidu.Apple last week published a Chinese-language guide explaining how eligible Mac users in mainland China could connect Qwen to its Siri digital assistant and Writing Tools feature.

Apple subsequently removed the guide without providing an explanation.Alibaba’s US-listed shares rose about 4 per cent in premarket trading following news of the July registration, reflecting investor expectations around the partnership.Apple seeks AI boost in ChinaApple’s partnership with Alibaba was first confirmed in February 2025, when Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai said Apple would use the Chinese company’s AI technology to power its smartphones in China.“They talked to a number of companies in China.

The absence of Apple Intelligence features on Chinese iPhones has been cited as a factor weighing on sales as consumers increasingly turn to domestic brands offering built-in AI assistants.