Alibaba and Apple Shake Hands: AI Partnership Set to Revolutionize iPhones in China

On February 13, 2025, Alibaba Group Chairman Joe Tsai officially announced a partnership with Apple to bring AI features to the iPhone in China. The collaboration will leverage Alibaba's Qwen model, aligning with the Chinese government's preference for a domestically-based AI solution. This deal is expected to bolster both companies' market positions, addressing Apple's lagging performance in China due to the absence of localized AI on its devices. While no specific timeline has been provided for the launch of these features, Apple plans to expand Apple Intelligence to more European regions with iOS 18.4 in April. Tsai highlighted that Apple had selected Alibaba after considering multiple Chinese companies, emphasizing the importance of local AI solutions for the iPhone.