Apple is preparing to bring Apple Intelligence to mainland China in December through iOS 27.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, as reported by Techmeme. The features, first introduced in the US in 2024, will finally reach Chinese users after nearly two years of regulatory delays.
The launch will reportedly not include Siri AI, the new voice assistant heavily promoted with the iPhone Duo. For Tunisian readers, this signals Apple's careful balancing act between its global AI roadmap and China's strict tech regulations — a market that represents a major share of iPhone sales.
Alibaba's Qwen Models Power Apple Intelligence in China
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has approved Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen, known as Qwen, along with the Tongyi Wanxiang AI image and video generator, for use in Apple Intelligence. The South China Morning Post, owned by Alibaba Group, reported the approval.
Apple had already received clearance to launch Apple Intelligence in mainland China back in July, but held off until now. The updated filings also include network access permits for the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro. While much of Apple Intelligence is already available in Hong Kong, mainland China's complex AI and privacy laws forced Apple to wait.
Apple Intelligence China Rollout: What's Included and What's Not
The December launch via iOS 27.3 will bring core Apple Intelligence features to compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro models sold in China. These include writing tools, notification summaries and image generation powered by Qwen.
However, Siri AI will be absent from the mainland rollout, according to Bloomberg. This is notable because the iPhone Duo, launching in China next week, will feature the new Siri AI as a flagship software highlight in other markets. The discrepancy highlights how Apple must tailor its AI stack to local rules.
