What happened
Alibaba's AI models have been cleared for use within Apple Intelligence in mainland China. The timing lines up with Apple's iPhone Duo launch.
Why it matters
Apple Intelligence had still not rolled out in mainland China despite launching nearly two years ago. China requires local approvals before AI services can operate in the country, so a local model partner is what makes it possible for Apple to switch its system on there.
What's next
With the approval, the regulatory hurdle in front of Apple's AI features in China appears to be cleared. When and how broadly Apple will enable those features is not yet clear.
