Apple has reportedly finalized its partnership with Alibaba to introduce AI services in China, moving away from recent discussions with other players including DeepSeek, which had garnered significant attention in the AI sector. This strategic alignment marks a pivotal moment as Apple seeks to establish a foothold in the Chinese market for its AI offerings.
Previously, Apple was in negotiations with notable companies such as Tencent and ByteDance, in addition to earlier speculation about engaging with Baidu. Ultimately, Alibaba emerged as the preferred choice for this collaboration.
In China, Apple requires a local partner to navigate the stringent regulations surrounding generative AI services, as the governmental approval process favors local enterprises. This need for a partnership has delayed the launch of Apple Intelligence, which has not yet made its debut in a critical market like China.
However, with Alibaba on board, it appears that things are set to change. Reports suggest that the two companies have already submitted a batch of co-developed AI features for regulatory approval in China. The timeline for this process remains uncertain, but Apple is eager to expedite it, especially given the absence of its core AI service in one of its leading markets.
