Apple Intelligence, the generative AI suite from the iPhone maker, is finally heading to China. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country's regulatory body, has given the green light for Apple's AI services to operate within its borders. This approval follows a partnership that integrates Alibaba's Qwen AI model into Apple's operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. The deal, which had been rumored since last year, represents a significant milestone for Apple's AI ambitions in one of its most crucial markets.

In the second quarter, Apple's sales in Greater China surged by 28%, reaching $20.5 billion. The company also recently reclaimed the second spot in China's smartphone market, thanks to discounts on the iPhone lineup during a major shopping festival. Apple had previously been exploring a partnership with Baidu, but reports indicated challenges in adapting Baidu's models for Chinese consumers. Despite these hurdles, Baidu's statement suggests the collaboration is still active. Additionally, Apple looked into integrating models from DeepSeek and ByteDance, according to reports. These explorations caused delays in bringing Apple Intelligence features—first launched in 2024—to the Chinese market.

Alibaba earlier confirmed the news to CNBC, stating that Qwen would be "integrated into Apple Intelligence experiences," though no specific timeline was provided. The company also noted that the integrations would include AI capabilities such as "text and image understanding and generation."

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The original version of this article was published on July 15. The article was updated Thursday, July 16, with the statement from Baidu.