Apple Intelligence is coming to China — without Siri AI
Apple has been trying for two years to bring its AI system to devices in China. Approval now appears to be in place — along with a launch date.
Apple Intelligence on various Apple devices.
(Image: Apple)
Apple’s first AI features are finally coming to China. Parts of Apple Intelligence are expected to become available there with iOS 27.3, which is expected in December, according to a report citing people familiar with the matter. That would bring Apple to its second-most important market more than two years after launching its AI system. However, the features are expected to be limited at first. Siri AI with personal context apparently isn’t planned initially, either. Apple is also working with local AI companies that it doesn’t consult in Western countries.
Older software arrives late
Reports surfaced over the summer that China’s Cyberspace Administration had approved Apple Intelligence. But nothing happened at first. Apple is said to have developed a dedicated AI model for China with help from e-commerce and cloud giant Alibaba, adapted to local conditions, including the country’s censorship requirements.
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According to a Bloomberg report, Apple will implement the AI capabilities it rolled out for iPhone, iPad and Mac in 2024, including Writing Tools. The rollout will also include Genmoji (AI-generated emoji) in its original 2024 version, notification summaries and the older photo tools, including the ability to remove objects. The image generator Image Playground, by contrast, won’t be available at all, in either its original or improved version. The new photo tools from iOS 27 and other software won’t be available either, including the ability to adjust perspective.
Siri AI “not in the foreseeable future”
Apple itself is reportedly pessimistic about bringing its “real” Siri AI features to China. They won’t arrive there “not in the foreseeable future”. It’s unclear, then, whether Apple can benefit from its AI features. Competitors such as Xiaomi, Huawei, Vivo and Oppo have been packing their smartphones with much more extensive AI features for years.
Siri AI is also unavailable in the European Union — here, Apple says, for regulatory reasons. The company stresses that it is in constructive dialogue with the European Commission. Apple’s AI system in China is expected to include guardrails and filtering technology tailored to the country — Apple Intelligence received approval only on that basis. Some search and Siri features are supported by technology from local search engine Baidu, the report said. China’s Cyberspace Administration is said to have kept Apple waiting for a long time.
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