Apple to launch AI features in China as early as May

Apple is racing to launch its “Intelligence” features in China by mid-2025, with insiders saying the rollout could happen as early as May. 

The Cupertino-based giant has assembled teams in the United States and China to tackle engineering challenges and satisfy Chinese regulations, according to people familiar with the matter.

Alibaba is helping Apple create an on-device system that will filter and adjust the company’s models to comply with government requirements. Baidu, sometimes referred to as China’s Google, will handle other tools, including a feature called Visual Intelligence for the upcoming iPhone 16.

Apple’s decision follows a sharp drop in iPhone sales in China—its largest market outside the US—and local rivals have drawn users away with their own technology. 

Company representatives declined to comment, but Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai confirmed on Thursday that his firm was part of the project. Meanwhile, Apple is preparing its next suite update for April through iOS 18.4, which will include new language support, although a full platform launch remains slated for later this year.