Apple to Launch AI Features in China This December

Apple is poised to introduce its first artificial intelligence features in China this December, concluding a waiting period that began when Apple Intelligence debuted in the U.S. in 2024.

China represents a critical market for Apple, and during the interim, domestic competitors have been actively releasing phones equipped with integrated AI capabilities. Apple, meanwhile, has been selling iPhones in the region with a significant headline feature disabled.

Regulatory Approvals Pave the Way

The path to market cleared a major hurdle on July 15, 2026, when the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) officially registered Apple’s generative AI service. Notably, Apple was the sole foreign entity to appear on this approval list.

CAC registration is essentially a prerequisite for operation, meaning a generative AI product cannot legally be offered to the public in mainland China without it.

A second crucial step was completed on October 14, 2026. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) updated its network-access permits to incorporate Apple Intelligence models. These permits specifically cover the forthcoming iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro.

Apple’s AI models were not the only ones listed. The same permits also named Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen, widely known as Qwen, and its Tongyi Wanxiang AI models.

Strategic Partnerships for Localized AI

This inclusion alongside Chinese tech giants is not coincidental. Apple has forged partnerships with Alibaba for language models and with Baidu for search and visual functionalities.

Despite securing these necessary approvals, the AI features remained unavailable on mainland China devices as of October 14, 2026. The planned December launch will mark the first opportunity for Chinese users to access them.

Apple Intelligence, which includes an enhanced Siri, was initially launched in the U.S. in 2024. Since then, Chinese iPhone consumers have observed the global rollout of features that were inaccessible to them.

Market Performance and Future Outlook

In the second quarter, Apple’s shipments in China saw a significant increase of 24.4% year-over-year, positioning it as the country’s second-largest smartphone vendor, trailing only Huawei.

The MIIT permits specifically mentioning the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro suggest a potential launch strategy aligned with Apple’s next generation of devices.

Apple’s status as the only foreign company on the CAC’s July approval list indicates that international firms can navigate China’s AI regulations, provided they collaborate with domestic partners and adhere to the complete regulatory framework.

However, this partnership model introduces certain trade-offs. Reliance on Alibaba for language models and Baidu for search and visual tools means the user experience in China will likely differ from that offered in other markets.

For Alibaba and Baidu, this arrangement represents a subtle but significant victory. Their technologies will gain exposure through one of China’s most popular smartphone brands, integrated within Apple’s refined interface.

Key developments to monitor leading up to December include Apple’s confirmation of the exact rollout date, the specific features that will be included in the Chinese version, and how the launch timing aligns with the release of the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro.