Apple has joined forces with Alibaba in a new strategic partnership to bring AI-powered features to iPhones in China.
The collaboration comes as Apple struggles with declining iPhone sales in the region, with a reported 11% drop due to the absence of local AI capabilities.
Apple chose Alibaba for its advanced Qwen AI model, which is considered a leader in AI technology.
This move follows the success of Alibaba’s Qwen 2.5 Max model, which outperforms competitors like DeepSeek-V3.
With Chinese tech giants like Huawei already ahead in AI, Apple is looking to regain ground and appeal to local consumers with enhanced AI features.
The partnership is seen as a crucial step in revitalizing iPhone sales, particularly during the holiday season, which is usually Apple’s peak sales period.
Both companies have submitted their jointly developed AI features to China’s cyberspace regulator for approval, marking the start of a major collaboration in the AI space.
