AI news · Apple · China
Apple plans to bring Apple Intelligence to China in December
The first release leaves out the new Siri AI assistant and Apple’s image tools, Bloomberg reports, after China cleared Alibaba’s AI models for iPhones.
Apple plans to switch on Apple Intelligence, its set of AI features, for iPhone users in China in December through the iOS 27.3 update, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday 14 October 2026, as relayed by 9to5Mac. The first release leaves out the new Siri AI assistant announced this year and Apple’s own image tools. Some text features are limited too.
Chinese users get the older core set, according to the report: Genmoji custom emoji, notification summaries, writing tools and Clean Up, which removes objects from photos. Huawei, Xiaomi and other local brands already sell phones with AI features of their own.
Because China limits foreign AI, Apple works with Alibaba and Baidu there, and Beijing signs off on each update to the models, MacRumors reports. The features have been missing in China since their 2024 debut. China’s industry ministry has now cleared Alibaba’s Qwen and Tongyi Wanxiang models for recent iPhones, including the foldable iPhone Duo, Computerworld reports. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo open in China on 16 October.
If Bloomberg’s report holds, Apple’s AI features reach iPhone owners in China about two years after their US debut.
Sources
- 9to5Mac: Apple Intelligence reportedly coming to China in December, but without Siri AI. Checked
- MacRumors: Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3. Checked
- Computerworld: China clears Alibaba’s Qwen AI just in time for iPhone Duo. Checked
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