Apple recently posted and removed details explaining how Mac users in China could set up their computers to work with Alibaba’s Qwen AI. Now, Reuters has confirmed long-held speculation that Apple has revisited its Google Gemini AI playbook and built its own proprietary AI model for China with support from Alibaba.
Apple worked with a Chinese partner because US models such as ChatGPT or Claude are not being made available there, though Chinese AI development doesn’t seem to be held back by that lack. Apple and Alibaba have not commented on the claims, the report said.
The approach echoes Apple’s work with Google to build more advanced large language models (LLMs) for use with Apple Intelligence, and the news will likely be seen as broadly positive by Chinese iPhone users. They can now look forward to working with Apple Intelligence on their devices. The proximity of the reporting suggests they may be able to access Apple’s AI quite soon, once new Apple operating systems ship next month.
The silver lining
It’s also smart, as it means Apple has identified a way to introduce AI features in nations that are becoming protective of their tech stack.And while Apple’s work with Google on Apple Intelligence was widely regarded as signifying how far behind the company had grown on AI, the work it is now doing with Alibaba shows how the partnership approach has become a strategic tool. Basically, Apple found a way to use such development partnerships to navigate protectionism and political rivalry for the benefit of its customers.
