Apple has gained regulatory clearance to bring Alibaba’s Qwen AI service to its devices in mainland China, opening a localised route into the country’s generative AI market and strengthening its foothold amid intense competition.
Apple has confirmed that Mac users in mainland China can now use Alibaba’s Qwen AI service, marking a significant step in its effort to bring generative AI features to the country after a lengthy regulatory process. The move gives Apple a locally approved route into China’s AI market, where foreign firms must work within strict rules governing generative systems.
According to Reuters-style reporting reflected in the sources, China’s Cyberspace Administration registered Apple Intelligence for mainland use on July 15, 2026, clearing a key obstacle that had delayed Apple’s plans. Apple is not deploying its own model in China. Instead, it is relying on Alibaba’s Qwen, which fits Beijing’s requirement that domestic AI services be built on models approved by Chinese regulators.
The integration is broader than Macs. Apple said it covers iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS, with text and image generation functions built into the company’s own interface rather than delivered through separate apps. That means Chinese users should be able to access AI tools more directly across Apple’s devices, although the company has not disclosed a firm timetable for a full rollout.
The market reaction was immediate. Alibaba’s US-listed shares rose about 4% in pre-market trading after the July 15 approval, according to the source material. For Apple, the commercial stakes are high: the company reported $20.5 billion in Greater China revenue in the second quarter of 2026, up 28% year on year, as it regained the No. 2 position among smartphone vendors in China. The arrangement also strengthens Alibaba’s Qwen by giving it access to a vast installed base of Apple devices, while narrowing the distribution prospects for rivals such as Baidu’s Ernie and ByteDance’s Doubao.
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