Apple briefly published a support guide in China explaining how eligible Mac users could connect Alibaba’s Qwen artificial intelligence service to Siri and Writing Tools, offering one of the clearest indications yet of how Apple plans to expand its AI capabilities on the Mac in mainland China.
- Qwen Could Extend Siri’s Capabilities on Mac
- The Setup Resembles Apple’s ChatGPT Integration
- Apple Removed the Guide Less Than a Day Later
- Apple Has Already Faced AI Rollout Delays in China
- Alibaba Replaced Baidu as Apple’s Lead AI Partner
- China Approved Apple Intelligence for iPhone in July
- Qwen Could Help Apple Compete in China’s AI PC Market
The Chinese-language document appeared on Apple’s support website before being removed less than a day later. Reuters first spotted the guide on August 8, while subsequent reports confirmed that it had disappeared by August 9.
The guide provided unusually specific details about the integration. It said eligible users in mainland China would need macOS 26.6 or later and would have to sign in with their own Qwen account before connecting Alibaba’s generative AI models to Apple’s system.
It also stated that Alibaba would not be allowed to use materials submitted through the integration to train or improve its AI models.
Qwen Could Extend Siri’s Capabilities on Mac
According to the briefly published documentation, Siri would be able to use Qwen when more detailed responses were required.
The integration could help Siri handle requests involving the analysis of photos and documents, extending Apple’s assistant beyond tasks processed directly by Apple’s own systems.
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Writing Tools would also gain access to Qwen.
The feature could use Alibaba’s AI to generate text and images, providing functionality similar to Apple’s existing ChatGPT extension in markets where that integration is available.
No equivalent support document was published for the iPhone or iPad.
That distinction is important because it suggests Apple was preparing a Mac-specific stage of its AI rollout in China rather than simply publishing general documentation for all Apple platforms.
The Setup Resembles Apple’s ChatGPT Integration
The Qwen implementation described in the deleted guide closely resembles the way Apple integrates ChatGPT with Siri and Writing Tools in other markets.
With Apple’s ChatGPT extension, Siri can hand more complicated requests to an external AI model when appropriate, while Writing Tools includes a Compose capability for generating content.
The external service is not intended to replace Siri entirely. Instead, it operates as an additional AI resource that can be invoked for requests requiring capabilities beyond Apple’s own models.
The Qwen integration appears to follow the same overall strategy while substituting a Chinese AI provider that can operate within mainland China’s regulatory environment.
The setup was also described as opt-in, requiring users to connect their own Qwen account.
Apple Removed the Guide Less Than a Day Later
The support guide did not remain online for long.
By August 9, Chinese news aggregator ReadHub reported that the document had disappeared from Apple’s website.
TechNode subsequently reported that Apple customer service told Chinese media it had received no notification that a new feature had officially launched.
Technology analyst Liu Dingding told the Global Times that the removal could reflect technical adjustments connected to the regulatory process rather than a decision to abandon the integration.
Apple has not provided a public timetable for when the Qwen connection on Mac will officially become available.
Apple Has Already Faced AI Rollout Delays in China
The unusual appearance and rapid removal of the guide follows an earlier incident involving Apple Intelligence in China.
In March, Apple Intelligence briefly became available to some Chinese users before being taken offline without the required regulatory approval.
China maintains strict requirements governing the release of generative AI services.
In practice, foreign technology companies such as Apple need to work with approved local providers to offer many AI capabilities in the country.
That regulatory environment has forced Apple to pursue a different AI strategy in mainland China from the one it uses in many international markets.
Alibaba Replaced Baidu as Apple’s Lead AI Partner
Apple initially selected Baidu as its primary AI partner for China.
However, reports in February 2025 indicated that Alibaba had become Apple’s lead partner after Baidu’s models failed to meet Apple’s requirements.
Baidu subsequently moved into a supporting role.
Alibaba operates the Qwen family of generative AI models, which has become one of China’s major domestic AI platforms.
Using Qwen gives Apple access to a locally developed model while helping the company comply with China’s rules governing AI services.
China Approved Apple Intelligence for iPhone in July
Chinese regulators cleared Apple Intelligence for launch in the country in July, registering Apple’s on-device AI service with the Cyberspace Administration of China.
That approval specifically covered the iPhone.
Apple did not announce whether the same regulatory clearance applied to iPad or Mac, nor did it provide a schedule for bringing Apple Intelligence to those devices in mainland China.
The appearance of a Mac-specific Qwen guide therefore provides an important signal about Apple’s next step.
If the documentation reflects a genuine upcoming release, Apple appears to be preparing to extend its China AI strategy from the iPhone to the Mac.
Qwen Could Help Apple Compete in China’s AI PC Market
The Mac integration also has strategic importance beyond Siri itself.
Chinese PC manufacturers are increasingly integrating locally developed AI services directly into their computers, creating stronger competition in the emerging AI PC market.
Apple needs localized AI capabilities if the Mac is to compete effectively with domestic brands offering AI functions designed specifically for Chinese users.
Connecting Siri and Writing Tools to Qwen would give Apple a way to provide more advanced generative AI capabilities without relying on the same external AI services used in other markets.
For now, however, the deleted support guide leaves the status of the rollout uncertain.
Apple has not confirmed when it will formally relaunch the Qwen integration for Mac users in mainland China, and it remains unclear whether the guide appeared prematurely or whether a broader rollout is approaching.
