October 31, 2026 – Apple Intelligence is finally coming to mainland China. Apple announced this morning that the first batch of on-device AI features will enter developer beta testing on November 4 and roll out to all eligible users in December with iOS 27.3.
The China version will be powered by Apple’s own on-device generative models, while Alibaba’s Qwen will serve as an extension for more complex tasks. After opting in, users can call Qwen directly inside Siri, the system-wide Writing Tools and Visual Intelligence for text understanding, image recognition and content generation.
This arrangement has been in the works for more than two years. Apple Intelligence was first unveiled in June 2024, but the China rollout was delayed by regulatory requirements for generative AI services. In July 2026, Apple’s on-device “Apple Intelligence” model completed filing with China’s cyberspace regulator, and in October the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s network-access filings listed Apple Intelligence, Tongyi Qianwen and Tongyi Wanxiang among the models embedded in new iPhone hardware.
For Chinese users, the first wave includes real-time translation, Writing Tools, Visual Intelligence, photo object removal, Genmoji, priority mail, mail and notification summaries, smart replies, and text input for Siri. Siri can tap Qwen when a request needs broader knowledge, document analysis or image-based answers; users can also ask Qwen about selected photos, PDFs and presentations. The Writing Tools gain a “Compose with Qwen” mode that can draft text and generate images from a prompt.
The update does not include the next-generation Siri AI that Apple previewed at WWDC 2026, nor support for iPad and Mac at launch. Compatible devices are limited to iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 and later models, plus iPhone Air and iPhone Duo, with Siri and device language set to Simplified Chinese or English.
Privacy controls are explicit: users must opt in, can choose when to share information, and must confirm before any document or image is sent to Qwen. Alibaba says user requests and generated responses will not be used to train its models.
The partnership matters because Apple has fallen behind Chinese Android makers in on-device AI. Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo have already embedded large-model features into their operating systems, putting pressure on Apple’s premium-user experience in China. For Alibaba, having Qwen built into Siri and system-level writing tools gives it a high-value distribution channel without requiring users to open a separate app.
