Apple has reportedly partnered with Alibaba to bring its Apple Intelligence platform to China following the rejection of a potential deal with AI startup DeepSeek and ByteDance. Initially, Apple had planned to collaborate with Baidu, but technical difficulties with Baidu’s AI models led to a change in direction. China remains a crucial market for Apple, yet the company has struggled to launch its AI-powered features there. CEO Tim Cook recently pointed to the absence of Apple Intelligence as a key reason for the 11% decline in iPhone sales in China, while domestic brands like Huawei have taken advantage of the situation to strengthen their market position.
The latest report on Apple’s partnership with Alibaba comes just before the expected launch of the fourth-generation iPhone SE. The budget-friendly model has historically played a vital role in driving sales in China and India, the world’s two largest smartphone markets. Given the growing competition from local manufacturers, Apple aims to regain momentum with its AI-powered services and new hardware releases.
For Apple’s U.S. launch of Apple Intelligence, the company previously partnered with OpenAI, integrating ChatGPT into Siri. Apple has also expressed willingness to collaborate with other AI providers, including Google’s Gemini. As the company navigates regulatory and technological challenges in China, the Alibaba partnership is expected to help Apple establish a stronger AI presence in the region.
