Apple appears to be gearing up for significant advancements in its Chinese device offerings. Recent reports indicate that new iPhone models, specifically the iPhone 15 Pro and subsequent iterations, have undergone state registration, obtaining necessary approvals for the use of large language models (LLMs). This move aligns with the integration of technologies like Apple Intelligence, Tongyi Wanxiang, and Tongyi Qianwen.
Changes in iPhone Model Registrations
According to IT Home, an update to state registration for a range of iPhone models occurred on September 29th, now including specific identifiers for LLM utilization. Among these are:
- Shanghai-AppleZhiNeng-202506160057
- Shanghai-TongYiWanXiang-202410090024
- ZheJiang-TongYiQianWen-20230901
These registration numbers have been associated with the iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max and future models, including speculative mentions of an iPhone Air and iPhone Duo. Notably, the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models were not included in this update.
Apple Intelligence and Chinese AI Developments
The registration of LLMs for the iPhone 15 Pro and later models aligns with prior announcements regarding support for Apple Intelligence. Apple had previously confirmed that Apple Intelligence would be exclusive to these higher-end models.
Back in July, China’s Cyberspace Administration (网信中国) released a list of seven generative AI LLMs intended for mobile devices. “Apple Intelligence” from Apple Technology Development (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. was among them, registered on July 8, 2026, for iPhone deployment. This suggests that AI functionalities on iPhones within China could be activated in the near future.
Integration with Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen
As reported by Securities Times, Alibaba has confirmed that its Tongyi Qianwen model will be integrated into Apple Intelligence. This integration means that users across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS in China will have direct access to AI capabilities on their Apple devices. They will be able to leverage Tongyi Qianwen for text and image comprehension, as well as content generation, without needing to switch between different applications.
The inclusion of Chinese AI models like Tongyi Wanxiang and Tongyi Qianwen highlights Apple’s strategy to tailor its services to the specifics of the Chinese market and comply with local regulatory requirements. This approach will enable the company to offer powerful AI tools integrated into the Apple ecosystem while maintaining user convenience.
Given these registrations, it is anticipated that Apple will soon roll out a software update for iPhones in China, activating these new AI features.
Source: iThome.com
