Apple users in China were briefly exposed to Apple Intelligence features recently. Some Chinese users discovered Apple Intelligence as an available and active option in the Settings app on their iPhones. However, it was revealed that Apple mistakenly introduced the highly anticipated Apple Intelligence features in China without obtaining regulatory approval. Currently, these features are not accessible in China due to regulatory constraints.
The features that appeared for users were not associated with the iOS 26.5 beta. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple promptly acknowledged the error and withdrew the features. Gurman mentioned that the features had been prepared for months, but Apple is still awaiting regulatory clearance. He also highlighted that Apple has no immediate plans to launch the feature.
Gurman emphasized that some of the existing features contradict China’s regulatory framework. For instance, one feature utilizes Google reverse image search, a service banned in China. He clarified that Apple would not introduce AI features in China without prior announcement or release them during late-night hours.
Apple is collaborating with Alibaba, a Chinese company, to empower Apple Intelligence features in China due to restrictions on foreign AI technology imposed by local regulations. Despite this partnership, Apple is encountering delays in securing regulatory approval from China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC), which evaluates and authorizes all AI models before their deployment in the country.
With the delay in the Apple Intelligence features, Apple faces growing competition from domestic smartphone manufacturers such as Huawei and Xiaomi, which already offer a variety of AI features to their customers.
While Apple users in China await the arrival of Apple Intelligence features, global users are anticipating the enhanced AI-powered Siri. Apple is anticipated to unveil the new Siri on June 8, 2026, during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). However, plans are subject to change. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the upgraded Siri, internally known as Campo, is undergoing internal testing to enhance its ability to comprehend requests, execute tasks within apps, access news content, and search the web using Apple-developed interfaces and models.