Apple will release a beta version of Apple Intelligence in China later in October, Tim Cook confirmed in an interview in Shanghai on October 15, TechNode reports. Cook said the initial features and the associated Alibaba Qwen models had received regulatory approval.
The first batch of features for Chinese users will include live translation, writing tools and photo cleanup. The redesigned Siri AI assistant will not be part of the beta, according to the reports, which cite Chinese outlet The Paper.
The confirmation gives a concrete timetable for Apple Intelligence in China for the first time. Bloomberg previously reported that Apple was targeting a December public rollout in the country; an October beta leaves room for that schedule to hold.
Apple's path to approval has run through local partnership: pairing its features with Alibaba's Qwen models addresses China's requirement that AI services use locally approved models and infrastructure. Cook did not say which iPhone, iPad or Mac software versions will carry the beta, or whether it will be limited to certain devices or regions within China.
For Apple, China remains both a top-three market and the one where its AI features have been absent longest, a gap analysts have linked to local competition from Huawei, Xiaomi and others shipping their own AI features. A beta this month would close part of that gap before the holiday quarter.
Details beyond Cook's confirmation, including exact beta dates, eligible devices and the full feature list, have not been announced by Apple; the December public rollout timing remains a Bloomberg report, not an Apple commitment.