Apple is gearing up to release its Apple Intelligence platform in mainland China in December, possibly ending a lengthy regulatory delay that has kept its artificial intelligence features unavailable in one of its largest markets.
As per Bloomberg, Apple plans to introduce the features via the forthcoming iOS 27.3 update.
The initial launch is likely to bring AI capabilities previously launched in the United States to iPhone, iPad and Mac users in China.
The features are likely to include Genmoji that lets users to customize custom emojis, writing assistance tools, AI-powered notification summaries and the Clean Up feature in Photos. Clean Up enables users to remove unwanted objects from images.
However, the December launch is not likely to include Apple's rebuilt Siri AI assistant or some of its cutting-edge image-generation tools, which were announced more recently.
Reports citing the same developments indicate that the Cupertino-based tech giant has worked with Chinese technology company Alibaba to develop models for its China-specific AI services.
A report suggested these models consist of some security measures that allow Chinese authorities to review ongoing updates. Some text-generation features may also face restrictions in certain applications to comply with local regulations.
Apple's AI rollout in China has faced repeated delays as the company navigated the country's regulatory requirements for generative AI services. The Cyberspace Administration of China previously registered the service, clearing a major regulatory hurdle.
China remains an essential market for Apple's hardware business.
However, the company faces rapid competition from domestic smartphone manufacturers that have already introduced AI-powered features in their devices.
It is pertinent to mention Apple has yet to publicly confirm the reported December launch date, and the final availability and scope of the features remain uncertain.
