Apple Partners with Alibaba to Bring AI Features to Chinese iPhone Users

Apple is teaming up with Alibaba to introduce its Apple Intelligence platform to China, according to a report by The Information. This move comes after Apple reportedly considered partnerships with rising AI startup DeepSeek and Bytedance but ultimately decided against them.

Baidu was initially Apple’s first choice for this initiative, but adapting Baidu’s AI models to Apple’s platform proved too challenging. With Alibaba now on board, the tech giant is taking steps to bring Apple Intelligence to Chinese users—a key feature that has yet to make its debut in one of Apple’s most critical markets.

China has always been vital for Apple, but the absence of Apple Intelligence has reportedly impacted sales. CEO Tim Cook recently pointed to this as a major factor behind an 11% drop in iPhone sales in China. Meanwhile, domestic brands like Huawei have capitalized on this gap, gaining ground with their own AI-driven smartphones.

This new development comes just as Apple gears up for the launch of the fourth-generation iPhone SE. Known for its affordability, the iPhone SE has been a strong performer in both China and India, the two largest smartphone markets in the world.

Apple has already introduced Apple Intelligence in the U.S. by partnering with OpenAI, integrating ChatGPT into Siri’s functionality. The company has also expressed openness to further collaborations, including with Google’s Gemini AI.

With this partnership, Apple is signaling that it’s serious about strengthening its foothold in China, leveraging AI to better meet the expectations of its users in the region.