The cyberspace regulator in Shanghai said on Monday, Nov. 9, that Apple Intelligence is now registered for use on tablets and laptops in China. The filing adds two new use cases, Apple tablets and Apple laptops, to the service’s existing registration.
China requires companies to register large language models and generative AI services before offering them to the public. Apple won approval to launch Apple Intelligence on iPhones in July. The new step covers the iPad and Mac. Apple is the only foreign company to secure this kind of clearance in mainland China, according to one report.
Apple must use local partners to meet China’s strict AI rules. Alibaba confirmed its Qwen model will be “integrated into Apple Intelligence” on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro in China. The model will handle text and image tasks. Baidu has also said it is working with Apple on features for Chinese iPhone users. The companies have not said how work will be split between the two.
Developer beta testing began in China on Nov. 4, reports say. One report says the China version leaves out some advanced features of the global product, and Apple has not said which ones.
Also Read: Apple Intelligence Vs Google Gemini: AI Features & Smartphone Integration
The approval matters since the delay left Apple behind Chinese phone makers. Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo have already rolled out generative AI features across their devices. Apple first introduced Apple Intelligence in June 2024 but could not launch it in mainland China without an approved local partner.
Apple is showing signs of recovery in China, with iPhone shipments up more than 24 percent in the second quarter of 2026, which put it second behind Huawei. A local version could also encourage more Chinese buyers to upgrade their devices. Reports point to a consumer launch in December with the iOS 27.3 update, though Apple has not confirmed the date or the full feature list.