BEIJING: Apple is changing its AI playbook in China, developing a localized large language model with technical support from Alibaba as the iPhone maker prepares to bring its Apple Intelligence features to one of its most competitive markets, according to three people familiar with the matter.
The move marks a departure from Apple’s earlier plan to rely primarily on third-party Chinese AI models to power generative AI features on iPhones and other devices sold in China.
Apple has trained the China-specific model with support from Alibaba, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the project has not been publicly announced. Apple and Alibaba did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Apple Intelligence is expected to launch in China in the coming months through an iOS software update, subject to regulatory approval. U.S. AI services such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude are not available in the Chinese market.
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Developing its own localized model could give Apple greater control over its AI experience while helping the company navigate China’s strict regulatory requirements. It also comes as Apple faces increasing pressure from local rivals such as Huawei, which have rapidly expanded AI capabilities across their smartphones.
If approved by Chinese authorities, Apple could become the first foreign company allowed to offer its own proprietary AI model in mainland China, highlighting the growing importance of localized AI development for global technology companies.
The model is also expected to operate alongside third-party Chinese AI systems, although Apple has not disclosed how the different models would work together.
