Apple AI Enters China: iPhone's 'Intelligence Sovereignty' Torn Like an Old Map

Bottom line first: Apple AI has finally landed in China, but this isn't a victory for the iPhone—it's the beginning of Apple being forced to hand over its "intelligent sovereignty." For the past two years, Chinese users watched overseas iPhones use Apple Intelligence while mainland versions could only stare helplessly. Now that the filing has been approved, Apple has finally compromised, but at a cost: its AI ecosystem is no longer closed. It must collaborate with local large models in China, meaning the iPhone's "intelligent sovereignty" is starting to loosen, and user choice is returning.