Apple Prepares Restricted AI Launch in China Without Siri Features
Apple is preparing to launch its Apple Intelligence system in China without Siri AI, following years of regulatory hurdles. The December release will feature basic legacy features, putting Apple behind local rivals.
Apple Intelligence Set for China Launch Without Siri AI
Apple is preparing to launch its artificial intelligence system in China within the coming weeks following roughly two years of regulatory hurdles, according to a report by Bloomberg. The upcoming release, expected alongside the iOS 27.3 update in December, will not include the crown jewel of the system, Siri AI, and will instead focus primarily on features that are more than two years old.
The tech giant originally unveiled Apple Intelligence in June 2024 and rolled it out globally a few months later, but regulatory barriers blocked its entry into the Chinese market. Apple received preliminary approval in July and recently concluded discussions with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to secure final consumer-facing clearance. To gain this approval, Apple was required to integrate safety mechanisms developed by China's Alibaba, including a filter allowing the government to vet future AI model updates, while also collaborating with Baidu on search and assistant functionalities.
Limited Feature Set Puts Apple at a Disadvantage
The version arriving in China will feature basic tools from earlier iterations, such as emoji generation, push notification summaries, writing tools, and object removal in photos. However, advanced capabilities like the upgraded Siri AI powered by Google's Gemini models, visual analysis modes, and enhanced image generation tools have not been approved for the Chinese market. These restrictions place Apple at a significant disadvantage against local mobile competitors such as Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo, which already integrate advanced local AI models into their smartphones.
