Apple Intelligence has cleared its regulatory hurdles in mainland China. Tim Cook confirmed in Shanghai on October 15 that the first, core set of features had been approved, and Apple said a test version would reach Chinese users in a beta later in October — more than two years after the features launched elsewhere.

The first batch is live translation, Writing Tools and Clean Up in Photos. The rebuilt, AI-powered Siri is not included, and Apple gave no date for it. The China version runs on local partners' models: MIIT filings list Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen (Qwen) for language processing and Tongyi Wanxiang for image generation alongside Apple Intelligence itself, while Baidu handles search and Siri-related functions, and Alibaba helped build the safeguards Chinese regulators require.

Bloomberg has reported a wider launch in December with iOS 27.3, still without Siri AI, Image Playground or the newer Genmoji. Which of the initially approved features make the beta, and how the October test relates to the December date, Apple has not said.