Apple is preparing to bring Apple Intelligence to China in December through iOS 27.3, according to Bloomberg, ending a lengthy delay caused by the country’s regulatory requirements. The rollout is expected to include a limited selection of Apple’s AI features, while several newer capabilities will remain unavailable.

The planned launch could give iPhone users in China access to basic tools such as AI-assisted photo editing. However, Apple’s AI-enhanced Siri will not be part of the initial release. Image Playground, the newer version of Genmoji, and some text-generation tools are also expected to be excluded or restricted.

Why Apple Intelligence was delayed in China

Apple introduced its first Apple Intelligence features with iOS 18.1, but the service has not been available in China since its initial launch. Apple received preliminary clearance to bring the technology to the country in July, but additional approval was needed before it could offer the features to consumers.

China places restrictions on foreign artificial intelligence services, requiring companies to comply with local rules and obtain regulatory approval. As a result, Apple has needed to work with Chinese technology companies rather than deploy its AI systems independently.

Apple is reportedly partnering with Alibaba and Baidu for its China-focused artificial intelligence offering. The company must also allow the Chinese government to approve continuing updates to the AI models used by the service.

Alibaba models approved for iPhones

The South China Morning Post reported that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently granted Apple network access permits connected to Alibaba’s Qwen and Tongyi Wanxiang models. The permits cover the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and earlier iPhone models, creating a path for Apple Intelligence to launch in the country.

The approval does not mean that every Apple Intelligence feature available elsewhere will arrive in China. Apple’s initial offering is expected to be shaped by local regulatory requirements and the capabilities that its approved partners can provide.

Apple faces stronger local competition

The delayed launch has left Apple behind several smartphone rivals in China. Companies including Huawei have offered artificial intelligence features on their devices for some time, giving local customers access to tools that Apple could not provide on its iPhones.

Bringing a limited version of Apple Intelligence to China would help narrow that gap, although the absence of AI-powered Siri and other features may make the first release less comprehensive than Apple Intelligence implementations in other markets.

iOS 27.3 is expected to arrive in December. Apple has not announced a broader timetable for expanding the China-specific Apple Intelligence feature set.