Apple’s effort to bring its AI suite to Chinese iPhones has been one of the most closely watched regulatory sagas in global tech. The company has been working to clear the Cyberspace Administration of China’s approval process for its Apple Intelligence features.
The CAC requires generative AI services to be registered, tested, and certified before they can reach consumers.
A rocky road to approval
Apple has been collaborating with Alibaba since at least 2025 to develop localized AI capabilities, essentially trying to build a version of Apple Intelligence that satisfies both Apple’s quality standards and Beijing’s compliance requirements.
That partnership hit an awkward speed bump in March 2026. Apple Intelligence features were accidentally rolled out to Chinese users before receiving formal CAC approval.
