Apple Accidentally Launches AI Features in China Without Approval

Apple Inc. mistakenly enabled Apple Intelligence features for users in China before securing required regulatory approval from the Chinese government. The rollout included a main toggle interface and localized Siri settings, which appeared on iPhones for a short period before the company took them offline.

While some reports suggested the features appeared via the iOS 26.5 developer beta, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman clarified that the launch occurred in error and was unrelated to the beta. To meet local requirements for China-based AI models, Apple has partnered with Alibaba Group to utilize the Qwen model.

Although the software has been ready for months and the partnership with Alibaba is established, a stable release remains pending. The Chinese government maintains strict regulations requiring AI services to be approved and powered by domestic technology partners before public deployment.