Apple’s on-device generative AI service, Apple Intelligence, has been registered with China’s cyberspace regulator for use on iPhones, clearing a key requirement for a mainland rollout incorporating artificial intelligence capabilities developed by Alibaba and Baidu.
The Cyberspace Administration of China said in a July 15 notice that Apple Intelligence was among seven mobile generative-AI services newly added to its registration list.
China requires companies to register large language models and generative-AI services with regulators before making them publicly available, making the registration an essential step toward bringing Apple’s AI features to Chinese users.
Alibaba’s Qwen extends across Apple platforms
A source familiar with the matter said Apple Intelligence would incorporate capabilities from AI models developed by Alibaba and Baidu.
Alibaba said its Qwen model would be integrated into Apple Intelligence in China across iPhone and iOS, iPad and iPadOS, Mac and macOS, and Vision Pro and visionOS, extending its role beyond smartphones to Apple’s tablets, computers and mixed-reality headset.
The registration notice itself did not outline how Qwen will be deployed within individual Apple Intelligence functions or provide further technical details about the integration.
Baidu builds AI features for Apple in China
Baidu is separately working with Apple to develop Apple Intelligence features for Chinese iPhone users, a company spokesperson confirmed without specifying which functions would rely on Baidu’s technology or how it would operate alongside Alibaba’s Qwen model, according to Reuters.
Alibaba and Baidu shares rise, then pare gains
Alibaba shares closed 4.78 percent higher at $117.69 on Wednesday, rebounding from the previous close of $112.32.
The advance continued a recovery that began after the stock touched $91.99 on June 26, before climbing to $98.14 on July 7 and surging to $108.98 on July 8.
It later reached $112.32 on July 14 and moved above $117 following the registration announcement. On Thursday, Alibaba shares rose as high as $119.90 before retreating to about $117.76.
Baidu shares, meanwhile, advanced about 1.5 percent to $113.10 after reaching an intraday high of $116.30.
The stock had closed at $117.53 on July 10 before falling to $109.73 on July 14, when it traded as low as $106.17. It recovered to $111.48 on Wednesday before extending the rebound and surrendering part of Thursday’s earlier gain.