AI News Monitor

Apple has announced a new partnership with Alibaba to power artificial intelligence (AI) features for iPhones sold in the Chinese market. The collaboration was confirmed by Joe Tsai, Alibaba Group’s Chairman, at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. Tsai revealed that while Apple had explored partnerships with other companies in China, the tech giant ultimately chose Alibaba for the collaboration.

Currently, Apple’s AI features, known as Apple Intelligence, are not available in China. Even users who purchase iPhones outside the country are unable to access these features if they switch their region to mainland China. This move comes in response to China’s stringent AI regulations, which require large language models to receive government approval before being used commercially. Companies that provide generative AI technology in China must also ensure that illegal content is removed from their platforms.

Earlier reports revealed that Apple had been in talks with multiple Chinese companies, including Baidu, Tencent, and DeepSeek, for its AI needs. However, the models developed by Baidu did not meet Apple’s standards, and DeepSeek, despite its viral success in the U.S. as a free iPhone app, was considered under-resourced to handle Apple’s vast user base.

The AI features Apple plans to integrate with iPhones in China have already been submitted to local regulators for approval. This strategic move highlights Apple’s commitment to adapting to China’s regulatory environment while offering advanced AI capabilities to its Chinese consumers.