AI news · Apple · China
Tim Cook says China has approved Apple Intelligence
Apple’s chairman says a beta with translation, writing and photo tools comes later in October, without the redesigned Siri.
Apple’s AI features have the green light in China. Tim Cook, Apple’s executive chairman, said in an interview in Shanghai on 15 October 2026 that Apple Intelligence and the Alibaba Qwen models it relies on there have regulatory approval, TechNode reports. He said a beta version arrives later in October.
The opening set of features is modest. Chinese iPhone owners get photo clean-up, writing tools and live translation, TechNode says, and Apple’s redesigned Siri assistant is left out.
Bloomberg had reported that Apple plans a public launch in China in December, TechNode notes. The beta gives Chinese users an earlier look.
Shanghai was one stop on a China trip that also took in Beijing and Guangzhou, China Daily reports. In Beijing he met Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Cook said Apple will grow its business in China further, the paper adds.
Cook also told China Daily that Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, is made only in China.
For brands that sell to Chinese iPhone users, Apple’s writing and photo tools now have regulatory approval to reach those phones, starting with a beta this month.
Earlier on this story: Apple plans to bring Apple Intelligence to China in December
Sources
- TechNode: Apple Intelligence to enter China beta testing this month, Tim Cook confirms. Checked
- China Daily: Cook says China is key to iPhone Duo’s success. Checked
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