Apple Intelligence Cleared for Launch in China After Regulatory Approval

Apple Intelligence is finally set to arrive in China after receiving regulatory approval from the country’s cyberspace authority, ending a delay that lasted nearly two years after Apple’s AI platform first debuted in other markets.

China’s Cyberspace Administration has registered Apple Intelligence for use on iPhones, a mandatory step for any generative AI service before it can be offered to consumers in the country.

The approval removes one of the biggest regulatory hurdles Apple has faced in bringing its AI features to one of its most important markets.

To comply with Chinese regulations, Apple Intelligence will use artificial intelligence models developed by local technology companies rather than relying solely on the systems used elsewhere.

Alibaba confirmed that its Qwen large language model will power Apple Intelligence experiences across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS in China, while Baidu said it is working with Apple to develop additional AI features for Chinese iPhone users.

The approval is particularly significant for Apple as the absence of Apple Intelligence in China has left the company at a disadvantage against domestic smartphone makers such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo, all of which already offer AI-powered features on their devices.

China requires publicly available generative AI services to complete government registration before launch, with the process covering content governance and regulatory compliance.

Although the filing allows Apple to launch the service, neither the regulator nor Apple has announced when Chinese users will gain access to Apple Intelligence. The registration simply confirms that the platform is legally cleared for release, leaving the final rollout schedule in Apple’s hands.