China has officially approved Apple Intelligence for use on devices sold in the country. This decision comes after a 22-month wait since Apple first launched its artificial intelligence system globally. To get this approval, Apple had to follow strict Chinese rules. These rules require that any AI service available to the public must use approved Chinese models.
Because of this, Apple has partnered with two major Chinese technology companies: Alibaba and Baidu. Alibaba's language model, called Qwen, will be the main system powering Apple Intelligence on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and the Vision Pro headset in China. It will help the devices understand and create text and images. Baidu is also providing other AI technology for the Chinese market.
This news caused Apple's stock price to rise significantly. Alibaba's shares increased by five percent, and Baidu's shares went up by four percent in Hong Kong trading. This approval is important for Apple, especially as its revenue from China has grown by 28 percent in the second quarter of 2026. Apple's share of the Chinese smartphone market also increased, although Huawei still leads.
The approval process was fast, taking only one week after Apple submitted its application. Apple and Samsung were the only foreign companies to get approval, joining five Chinese manufacturers. This strategy shows Apple's approach to using different AI technologies based on local regulations in different countries, similar to its deal with Google's Gemini for the US market.