Apple Trained Its Own AI Model for China With Alibaba's Support [Report]

Apple has reportedly trained a large language model for the China market with help from Alibaba, according to Reuters. The move marks a shift in Apple's strategy for Apple Intelligence in China, where the company has previously relied on domestic AI partners because Western models such as Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude are unavailable.



Three people familiar with the matter told Reuters the model was developed in partnership with Alibaba and trained with the Chinese company's support. Apple and Alibaba did not respond to requests for comment. Apple Intelligence is expected to launch in China in the coming months following an iOS update, after the Cyberspace Administration of China registered Apple's generative AI service in July.


Rather than replacing local AI partners, Apple's model is expected to launch alongside them. Alibaba's Qwen model and technology from Baidu are set to be incorporated into the localized version of Apple Intelligence for compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro models, though Reuters says it remains unclear how Apple's self-trained model will work alongside those third-party systems. The arrangement would give Apple greater control over the AI experience in its most competitive overseas market, where Huawei and other domestic rivals have already shipped AI-equipped smartphones. The approach could also make Apple the first foreign company authorized by Beijing to offer a proprietary AI model in China.

Apple's partnership with Alibaba first became public in February 2025, when chairman Joe Tsai said Apple had spoken with a number of companies in China before choosing Alibaba. The rollout was later delayed amid approval roadblocks and trade tensions as Apple worked to adapt its features to Chinese regulations. Last week, the company briefly published a Chinese-language guide explaining how eligible Mac users in mainland China could connect Qwen to Siri and Writing Tools before removing the guide without explanation.