Apple and Alibaba's AI collaboration has entered a substantive phase, with Apple China's official website adding a page titled "Use Qwen with Apple Intelligence on Mac" to its Mac User Guide. Qwen is not offered as a standalone app but is embedded as one of the foundational models within system-level AI interfaces such as Siri and writing tools in the China-specific version of Apple Intelligence. When Siri cannot directly fulfill certain requests, users can invoke Qwen for more in-depth responses, including analysis of photos and documents; in writing tools, users can leverage Qwen to generate text or images based on textual descriptions. Apple has established a new AI supply chain model: maintaining control over its operating system and hardware interfaces while selecting local suppliers for foundational models based on regional markets. For Alibaba, this means gaining a significant distribution channel for its models, enabling millions of Apple devices to access them through integrated system functions. For Apple, the delay in launching Apple Intelligence in China prompted the search for a local partner to accelerate development. In July this year, Reuters reported that Apple Intelligence’s generative AI services completed registration with Chinese regulators, and Apple partnered with Alibaba and Baidu, integrating Alibaba’s Qwen model into Apple devices covering iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. The Wall Street Journal previously reported Apple began advancing related regulatory procedures in early 2025.