Archive: iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max display models in Slovakia, photographed March 27, 2025. The image does not show the new China software rollout or current China pricing. Jakub CA / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0. Resized; no other change.
CUPERTINO, Calif. – Apple will begin testing Apple Intelligence features in China on November 4 and plans a public release in December with iOS 27.3, the company said in an October 31 announcement on its Chinese newsroom website.
The rollout will include live translation, writing tools, photo editing and selected Siri features. Apple also announced an agreement with Alibaba to bring its Qwen AI service into Siri, Writing Tools and Visual Intelligence for users in China.
The announcement sets a timetable for bringing Apple’s integrated AI features to the Chinese market, but it does not make them available immediately. Testing starts with the latest iOS developer beta; the broader release is planned for December.
Qwen will handle selected requests
Apple said Siri will be able to draw on Qwen for certain requests. Users will also be able to ask questions about photos and documents, including PDFs and presentations, and use Qwen to create original content through Writing Tools.
Access to Qwen will require a Qwen account or Sign in with Apple, according to the announcement.
The initial features also include translation in Messages, FaceTime and Phone; rewriting, proofreading and summaries; the Clean Up tool in Photos; Genmoji; natural-language photo searches; notification summaries; and the ability to type requests to Siri.
Not the next-generation Siri AI
Apple explicitly said this update does not include Siri AI or the other next-generation Apple Intelligence features announced at its 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference.
The first China release is for supported iPhones. Apple listed the iPhone 16 and later models, iPhone Duo, iPhone Air, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. It said support for other platforms will follow after the necessary approvals.
Source: Apple’s October 31 announcement.
JBizNews Technology Desk | Cupertino, California
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