Apple’s AI Delayed in China as Baidu, Alibaba to Help Censor: Report

Apple Intelligence features are now expected to launch in China with the release of iOS 18.6, not iOS 18.5 as originally planned, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Apple has faced months of challenges adapting its AI system for the Chinese market. Due to strict regulations, the company must work with local partners approved by the government. That includes using a censorship engine capable of modifying how the AI behaves on users’ devices.

Gurman reports that Apple will rely on Alibaba to help meet censorship requirements, while Baidu will be used to power Siri’s AI and visual tools—essentially replacing OpenAI and Google, which are not accessible in China.

The iOS 18.6 update is likely to roll out after Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

Apple is under pressure in China as sales remain sluggish and competitors are aggressively promoting their own AI features. The local rollout of Apple Intelligence is seen as a key step to staying competitive in the country. But with the super smart AI version of Siri delayed, it’s going to be more waiting to see the full potential of Apple Intelligence. How much patience do you have, especially if you bought an iPhone 16 series?