Apple Intelligence delayed in China

Apple is set to launch its artificial intelligence features, called Apple Intelligence, in mainland China as early as December, according to reports by Mark Gurman. This comes after a delay that pushed the initial U.S. launch of these features to two years ago.

Regulatory delays in China

The rollout of Apple Intelligence in China faced regulatory hurdles, with the initial target date set for May 2025. This was later pushed to the end of 2025 and then to spring 2026. However, Apple received its first approval in July and has since been in discussions with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Control mechanisms required

To gain approval from Chinese authorities, Apple had to agree to certain concessions. These include control mechanisms developed with Alibaba, such as a filter allowing Chinese authorities to approve updates to AI models. Baidu is also involved, particularly for functions related to search and Siri.

Limited features for Chinese users

The version of Apple Intelligence available in China will be significantly different from those in other regions. Chinese users will not receive all the functions available elsewhere. The first version will include tools introduced in 2024, such as notification summaries, writing tools, Genmoji, and the removal of elements in photographs. However, features like Image Playground and some text generation possibilities will be absent due to local regulations.

Siri AI not part of the launch

Siri AI, which is based on Google’s Gemini models, is not part of the initial launch in China. Apple’s leadership is not optimistic about a near-term launch in the country. This situation is further complicated by the fact that local manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo already offer many AI functions on their smartphones.

Apple Intelligence in Europe

In Europe, Apple has deployed most of its new Apple Intelligence functions in the European Union in September. However, Siri AI is still absent from iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. No availability date has emerged for Siri AI, as Apple still does not know if or when it will obtain the necessary approvals.

China and Europe in different positions

This creates a unique situation where China, known for its strict control of digital services, could have Apple Intelligence as early as December, while Europe is still waiting for its new assistant. The Chinese will not have Siri AI either, and there is no guarantee they will obtain it quickly. However, the negotiations in Beijing and the uncertainty in Europe raise questions about who will be served last.