Apple Teams Up with Alibaba to integrate AI in Iphone

Apple has partnered with Alibaba to integrate artificial intelligence technology into iPhone models sold in China.

Apple want to use our AI to power their phones,” Joe Tsai, chairman of Alibaba, said on Thursday during a speech at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.

Key Points

• Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai stated Apple has been very selective in business partners. After engaging with several companies in China, Apple ultimately decided to collaborate with Alibaba.
• Joe Tsai expressed they feel extremely honored to business with such a prestigious company.
• Reportedly Alibaba’s AI models will power on-device AI features, optimizing functions such as voice recognition, real-time translation, personalized recommendations for Chinese iPhone users.
• Alibaba become a favorite among Chinese AI investors early in 2025, with its stock price increasing by over 40% so far this year.

Background

Due to local compliance issues and regulatory concerns, Apple has so far only been able to release its AI service, Apple Intelligence, to limited markets, including the US, Canada, UK and Australia.

The Chinese government mandates that foreign AI operators need to partner with a local company and obtain regulatory approval.

The confirmed partnership with Apple has boosted investors’ confidence in Alibaba. Its Hong Kong-listed shares have surged more than 40 since hitting a-year low in January.

News Gist

Apple partnered with Alibaba to integrate its AI into iPhones sold in China, enhancing voice recognition, translation, and personalized recommendations.

Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai announced the collaboration, expressing pride in partnering with Apple.

Apple carefully chose Alibaba after evaluating multiple companies.