Apple plans to roll out its first AI features in China in December. Chinese regulators have approved Apple's generative AI service and updated network-access permits to include Apple Intelligence models. The feature was still unavailable on mainland China devices as of October 14, 2026.
Apple plans to roll out its first AI features in China in December, ending a wait that has lasted since Apple Intelligence first arrived in the US in 2024. Meanwhile, local rivals have shipped phones with AI built in, and Apple has sold iPhones in China with one of their headline features switched off.
How Apple cleared two regulatory hurdles
The first approval came on July 15, 2026, when the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) registered Apple's generative AI service. Apple was the only foreign entry on that approval list. Without CAC registration, a generative AI product can't legally serve the public in mainland China.
The second step followed on October 14, 2026. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) updated network-access permits to include Apple Intelligence models, and those permits cover the upcoming iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro.
Apple's models weren't listed alone. The same permits named Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen, known as Qwen, and its Tongyi Wanxiang AI models. Apple has partnered with Alibaba for language models and with Baidu for search and visual features.
China remains a key market for Apple
Apple Intelligence, including an upgraded Siri, launched in the US in 2024. Since then, Chinese iPhone buyers have watched users elsewhere get features they couldn't access.
In the second quarter, Apple's shipments in China rose 24.4% year-over-year. That made Apple the country's number two smartphone seller, behind only Huawei.
What to watch before December
Because the permits list the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro, a launch tied to Apple's next devices is possible. Relying on Alibaba and Baidu also means Apple's China experience will differ from what users get elsewhere.
Still unconfirmed are the exact rollout timing and which features make the cut for the Chinese version.
Source: Crypto Briefing
Trading involves risk.
Risk Disclaimer
