Alibaba Group announced the release of an upgraded version of its flagship artificial intelligence model, Qwen3, which has successfully adapted to Apple's MLX architecture. This indicates that Apple Intelligence's launch in the Chinese market is likely imminent. According to Alibaba, the new Qwen3 version boasts enhanced performance and supports 119 languages and dialects, further improving user experience.
In the previous iOS18.4 version, Apple Intelligence had already begun supporting Simplified Chinese, but its generative AI functions were not yet officially launched in mainland China. To expedite the promotion of this functionality in China, Apple had considered partnerships with companies like ByteDance and Baidu, ultimately choosing to collaborate with Alibaba.
This upgraded version of Qwen3 can run on Mac computers equipped with Apple's self-developed chips (Apple Silicon) and is also compatible with iPhone and iPad devices that support Apple Intelligence. When Alibaba first released Qwen3 in April 2025, it mentioned that the model uses a hybrid architecture, offering superior performance compared to its predecessor, Qwen2.5.
The upgraded Qwen3 version not only supports a wider range of languages but also features the Expert Mixture (MoE) model and "hybrid reasoning capabilities," making it more efficient when handling complex tasks. It is worth noting that despite Apple recently releasing the first developer beta of iOS18.6, Apple Intelligence is still not available in mainland China. According to AppleInsider, Apple may choose to provide a preview of Apple Intelligence to Chinese users in the official public beta version of iOS18.6.
As the collaboration between Alibaba and Apple deepens, Apple Intelligence's arrival in the Chinese market is becoming inevitable. Users will soon be able to enjoy more advanced AI services.
Key Points:
🌟 Alibaba launched an upgraded version of Qwen3, compatible with Apple's MLX architecture, aiding Apple Intelligence's rollout in China.
📱 The new Qwen3 version supports 119 languages and features enhanced performance and hybrid reasoning capabilities.
🚀 Apple Intelligence has not yet launched in China and may offer a preview in the official public beta version of iOS18.6.
