Apple plans to introduce its AI features to the Chinese market in December 2026. This follows a two-year regulatory process required to operate generative AI services in mainland China.
On July 15, 2026, the Cyberspace Administration of China registered Apple’s generative AI service, making it the only foreign company on the approval list. Subsequently, on October 14, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology updated network-access permits to include Apple Intelligence models.
The updated permits cover the upcoming iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro devices. These documents also list Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen and Tongyi Wanxiang models, reflecting Apple’s partnerships with local firms for language, search, and visual features.
Apple remains the second-largest smartphone seller in China, with shipments increasing by 24.4% year-over-year in the second quarter. The company previously launched Apple Intelligence in the US in 2024.
