Although earlier reports suggested that Apple’s “Apple Intelligence” service in the Chinese market would involve a collaboration with Alibaba, recent developments indicate that the initiative has encountered obstacles during the regulatory review conducted by the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission—due in part to ongoing tensions from the U.S.–China trade war.
Amid a series of restrictive measures imposed by the U.S. government on Chinese enterprises, including bans on the export of advanced technologies and related products to China, Beijing has begun enacting retaliatory policies. The regulatory scrutiny surrounding the Apple-Alibaba collaboration on Apple Intelligence may be a manifestation of efforts to suppress the expansion of American tech firms within China.
On the other hand, the delays may also stem from the sensitive nature of artificial intelligence technologies, which require more rigorous approval procedures by Chinese authorities.
Given that China remains one of Apple’s most vital markets outside the United States—and that a significant portion of Apple’s manufacturing operations still take place within the country—the company cannot easily extricate itself from this region’s economic landscape.
Nonetheless, Apple’s pace of progress in AI services, particularly with Apple Intelligence, has drawn criticism for lagging behind competitors such as Google and OpenAI. Especially in China, where demand for Chinese-language AI applications continues to grow, Apple currently offers few concrete features tailored to this need.
Despite its slower-than-anticipated rollout, Apple Intelligence has already established a notable presence across many global markets—with the conspicuous exception of mainland China. According to the latest report by the Financial Times, the primary reason remains the escalating trade conflict between China and the United States. Rising geopolitical uncertainty between the two nations has indirectly hindered the approval process for the China-specific version of Apple Intelligence developed in collaboration with Alibaba.
Facing mounting competition from domestic Chinese manufacturers, iPhone shipments in the mainland have experienced more intense pressure than in other regions. In many instances, Apple has been compelled to resort to price reductions. Should Apple Intelligence—heavily promoted as a key feature—fail to materialize in this critical market, iPhone sales may suffer further setbacks.
