Two Chinese Giants Unite for iPhone, Breaching Xi Jinping's Blockade

Two Chinese giants, Alibaba and Baidu, have confirmed they are working with Apple. Through this partnership, Apple users in China will be able to access AI technology from both companies. A spokesperson for Alibaba confirmed the news, stating that its Qwen model will be integrated into iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and VisionOS. “Qwen will be integrated into Apple Intelligence on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and VisionOS for users in China,” the Alibaba spokesperson said. The spokesperson explained that the combination of Apple and Qwen will allow users to access capabilities such as text and image understanding and generation without needing to switch between different tools. Similarly, Baidu also confirmed its collaboration with Apple for Apple Intelligence features on the iPhone in China. Shares of both companies rose on Thursday following the news. Alibaba’s stock listed in Hong Kong increased by 5%, while Baidu’s rose by 4%. Previously, the Cyberspace Administration of China included Apple Intelligence on its list of approved service providers in the country. Six mobile-based AI services were listed, including one from Huawei Technologies. This cooperation comes as technological competition, including in AI, between the US and China intensifies. Both countries are striving to win global AI dominance. The US, for example, restricts China’s access to advanced chips, while China blocks US investment in local technology firms. This dominance is crucial, as a report from the RAND research organisation states it can determine economic success and set global standards. “AI leadership is extremely important for economic competitiveness, setting global standards, and maintaining democratic governance,” RAND explained.