Apple’s chairman Tim Cook says Apple Intelligence has been approved in China, and that a test version is due later in October. He made the comments in an exclusive interview with Chinese outlet The Paper in Shanghai on Thursday, 15 October 2026, Reuters reported. Reuters described The Paper as state-backed media.
The first features include live translation, Writing Tools and the Clean Up tool in Photos. Siri AI is not included. Apple says on its own website that Siri AI and its other new Apple Intelligence features will not be available in China.
What Cook said
The Paper’s interview was in Chinese. In TSN’s translation, Cook said Apple was “very pleased to have been approved to bring the first core Apple Intelligence features to Chinese users, including live translation, the Clean Up tool in the Photos app, and Writing Tools,” and that it looked forward to offering them in a beta “coming later this month.”
The Paper reported that Siri AI was not part of the first set of features. The Paper described Cook as Apple’s executive chairman; Reuters referred to him as Apple’s chairman.
Cook did not say, in the interview as published, which authority had granted the approval.
What Apple says about Siri AI
On 15 October, Apple published details of its new foldable iPhone Duo. A footnote on that page says: “Siri AI and the other new Apple Intelligence features will not be available in China.”
Siri AI is Apple’s new version of its assistant, which Apple describes as “an entirely new version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence.” Apple says it is rolling out in beta in English with iOS 27. So Chinese users are set to get a first group of Apple Intelligence tools, but not the new Siri or the other newer features.
The regulatory filings behind it
The Paper set out several regulatory steps that preceded Cook’s comments.
Model registration. China’s internet regulator published a notice in July listing seven on-device generative AI services for phones that had completed registration, The Paper reported. It said the “Apple智能” (Apple Intelligence) model, registered by Apple Technology Development (Shanghai), was filed on 8 July 2026, for use on iPhones.
Device licences. The Paper said that the latest network-access licence information from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, published on 14 October, showed that the China model of the iPhone Duo (A3721) had its licence renewed on 29 September. The renewed licence added filing numbers for the large AI models the device carries.
According to The Paper, three models were added: Apple Intelligence, Tongyi Wanxiang and Tongyi Qianwen. The Paper said the filings were seen as a key step in Apple’s push to bring AI features to the Chinese market. It added that several other iPhones, including the iPhone 18 Pro series, iPhone 17 Pro series and iPhone Air, also had model filing numbers added on 29 September.
Which iPhones
According to Apple’s China website, as cited by The Paper, Apple Intelligence works on all iPhone 16 models and later, plus iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone Air.
Cook’s China visit
The Paper said Cook’s visit came on the eve of iPhone Duo pre-orders. During the trip he visited Blue Box, a home and sleep brand that The Paper says has deployed Macs at scale and uses Mac minis for on-device AI. Asked about the iPhone Duo, Cook said that every time he opens it, he can’t help smiling, according to The Paper.
What we don’t know
- The exact date of the beta, beyond “later this month.”
- Which regulator gave the approval Cook mentioned.
- Whether, or when, Siri AI and the other newer features could come to China.
What this means
- A first step for Apple AI in China. Cook says core features such as live translation and Writing Tools are approved, with a beta this month.
- No new Siri. Apple says Siri AI and other new Apple Intelligence features won’t be available in China.
- Paperwork in place. Chinese filings list AI models on new iPhones, including the iPhone Duo, according to The Paper.
Sources
- The Paper (澎湃新闻), exclusive interview with Tim Cook, 15 October 2026 (Chinese; TSN translation). https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_34256510
- Reuters via Devdiscourse, “Tim Cook says Apple Intelligence approved in China, The Paper reports”, 15 October 2026. https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/3992845-tim-cook-says-apple-intelligence-approved-in-china-the-paper-reports
- Apple Newsroom, iPhone Duo, 15 October 2026 (footnote 2). https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/10/open-up-to-new-possibilities-with-iphone-duo/
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