Apple plans to launch its AI platform on iPhones in China in May. According to Bloomberg, the company will use its own AI models and collaborate with local partners to comply with regulatory requirements.
Apple has dedicated teams in China working to adapt Apple Intelligence for the local market. While iPhones in China will run Apple’s on-device AI models, Alibaba’s software will automatically filter content that does not meet government regulations in the background, without users being aware.
Baidu will also be a partner, though its specific role has not been disclosed. This initiative comes as Apple faces declining iPhone sales in China. IDC data shows that in Q4 2024, Apple’s shipments fell by 9.6%, with its market share dropping from 20% to 17.4% due to growing competition, particularly from Huawei.