Apple taps Alibaba's Qwen for AI features in China

Apple will use Alibaba Group's Qwen model to handle server-side text generation, visual context queries and more complex Siri processing for users in mainland China; the features are in the iOS developer beta and are expected to roll out publicly with iOS 27.3 in December.

Apple has formalized a strategic partnership with Alibaba Group to power key parts of Apple Intelligence for users in mainland China. The arrangement assigns server-side tasks such as generative text and advanced visual queries to Alibaba's Qwen, while on-device operations like basic photo editing and translation remain on Apple's own foundation models, according to company materials and developer release notes.

The setup closely mirrors Samsung's approach. Since the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung has worked with Baidu and its Ernie model to power Galaxy AI features in China, including visual search, Bixby queries, live call translation, document summarization and related tools. That collaboration has continued and expanded into later models such as the S26 series.

Regulatory and platform integration

Both partnerships help the companies meet Chinese regulatory requirements for generative AI services and create tighter technical and commercial links to major local platforms. Integrations with services such as Alipay, Taobao and Baidu Maps aim to provide contextual capabilities that global models often struggle to replicate inside China.

Industry observers say the alliances solve immediate compliance and localization needs but raise longer-term strategic questions. Relying on domestic large language models for core AI processing in a market of this size can create dependencies and may constrain how much foreign device makers can differentiate their offerings as local AI capabilities advance. Neither Apple nor Alibaba has publicly detailed the full technical mechanisms used to remain compliant with Chinese content rules, though sources have indicated filtering technology is part of the solution.

For foreign device makers, working closely with China's leading AI and internet platforms has become a practical requirement to deliver advanced, localized AI features at scale in the world's largest smartphone market.