Sep 08, 2025 17:45:00

Will Apple finally start rolling out Apple Intelligence in China by 2025?

Apple Intelligence, which was announced at

WWDC 2024 and began to be installed in the iPhone 16 series released in September 2024, has finally been announced to be rolled out in China in 2025 after going through a number of issues.

Apple's iPhone 17 Air Event: Which New iPhone Should I Buy? iPhone 17 Pro - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-09-07/apple-s-iphone-17-air-event-which-new-iphone-should-i-buy-iphone-17-pro-mf9n5f9g

Report: Apple planning to launch Apple Intelligence in China before end of 2025 - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/07/report-apple-planning-launch-apple-intelligence-china-end-of-2025/

Apple Intelligence is a personal AI feature that incorporates OpenAI's ChatGPT, and the iPhone 16 series, released in September 2024, is touted as a 'device made for Apple Intelligence.'

'iPhone 16' and 'iPhone 16 Plus' have appeared, revealing what the new iPhone for Apple Intelligence can do - GIGAZINE

However, in China, one of Apple's key markets, local government approval is required to release a generative AI product. Because OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini are banned, Apple Intelligence requires a partnership with a local company. Apple partnered with tech giant Alibaba. Apple had aimed to release Apple Intelligence in China in mid-2025, but growing tensions between the U.S. and China delayed the approval process, and the U.S. government also expressed reservations about the partnership.

The Trump administration is reluctant to partner with Alibaba on Apple's 'Apple Intelligence' expansion in China - GIGAZINE

Still, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple has resolved the issue and is now planning to roll out Apple Intelligence in China by 2025. Apple CEO Tim Cook has also pointed out that the company's recent sales slump in China is due to the inability to use Apple Intelligence, so this move could help Apple make a comeback in China.