Apple has trained an AI model for China with support from Alibaba Group, marking a shift from its earlier reliance on third-party models in the country, three people familiar with the matter said.
The large language model was developed in partnership with Alibaba and trained with the Chinese technology company’s support, according to the people. They requested anonymity because the information is not public.
Apple had previously leaned toward using models from domestic partners for generative AI features on iPhones and other devices sold in China. U.S. services including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude are not available there.
Apple and Alibaba did not respond to requests for comment.
Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI software suite, is expected to launch in China in the coming months through an iOS update, according to people familiar with the plans; however, it does not provide a specific release date or iOS version.
The reported China-specific model would give Apple greater control over its AI features in a market where local rival Huawei has expanded its use of AI-equipped smartphones.
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Apple’s planned rollout is a dual-track strategy involving its own technology and Chinese partners to address local regulatory requirements. However, it does not provide confirmation that Beijing has approved Apple’s proprietary model for launch.
