China Clears Alibaba AI for iPhone Duo and Other Apple Models Ahead of October 16 Preorders
Updated
Updated · Computerworld · Oct 14
China Clears Alibaba AI for iPhone Duo and Other Apple Models Ahead of October 16 Preorders
3 articles · Updated · Computerworld · Oct 14
Summary
China’s industry ministry approved Alibaba’s Qwen and Wanxiang models for iPhone Duo and other Apple Intelligence-capable iPhones, clearing Apple to bring chatbot and image-generation features to mainland users.
The approval matters because U.S. AI models are unavailable in China, forcing Apple and Alibaba to build and submit localized AI features for regulators after Apple won broader Apple Intelligence clearance in July.
October 16 is the next key date: Apple is set to open iPhone Duo preorders in 70 countries including China, with shipments due October 23, while Tim Cook and COO Sabih Khan have both recently visited China.
China remains a crucial market even without full built-in AI—Counterpoint said Apple held 33% of weekly smartphone sales in mid-September, and local reports said it sold 1.3 million new iPhones in the first week.
The clearance could strengthen Apple’s position in the world’s biggest foldables market, where Huawei and other Chinese rivals have been pushing AI-heavy devices and saw demand rise after Apple unveiled iPhone Duo.