Overview
- Apple quietly added a Chinese-language Mac support page over the weekend of August 8–9 that shows Alibaba’s Qianwen model available as an Apple Intelligence extension on macOS 26.6 and later.
- The support material says the Qianwen extension works only for devices sold in mainland China or for users signed into Apple accounts set to China, and it requires a Qianwen login or Sign in with Apple.
- Apple documents two Mac entry points for Qianwen: Siri (which asks permission before invoking the model) and writing tools inside apps such as Notes and Mail, and it includes a dedicated privacy section and an option to disable the extension.
- Apple still routes Apple Intelligence to ChatGPT for devices and accounts outside mainland China, and separate reports and code findings indicate Apple is also working with Baidu for other China-specific AI features.
- Chinese regulators have already listed “Apple 智能” in generative-AI filings and Apple said it was permitted to launch initial Apple Intelligence features there, but Apple customer-service responses and the later removal of the support page have left the exact timing and public availability unclear.