Siri AI in China to use Alibaba’s Qwen, raising privacy concerns

Apple ↘ 1.62% unveiled Siri AI at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8, 2026, replacing more than a decade of its previous voice assistant with a rebuilt system that routes its most demanding tasks to Google's Alphabet Inc. ↗ 0.67% Gemini models under a confirmed multi-year partnership. Now, as the assistant moves toward its fall general availability, new details about how it will function in China have raised fresh questions about privacy.

A Hybrid Architecture With Google at Its Core

Siri AI is built on five Apple Foundation Models spanning on-device and cloud processing. Everyday requests are handled by on-device models, privacy-sensitive tasks run through Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, and the heaviest reasoning workloads are sent to a Gemini-backed cloud tier Apple calls AFM Cloud Pro.tech-insider+2

Apple has emphasized that Gemini technology is not directly embedded in Siri AI as a product. According to TechCentral.ie, Apple developed and optimized the final AI models itself, using Gemini technology and training methods during the development process rather than running Google's model as-is. Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, clarified that Siri AI does not rely on Google Search for facts and employs Apple's own knowledge service.pcmag+1

TechCrunch reported that Google Gemini is "under the hood" of the new Siri updates, making the assistant "more capable, conversational, and compatible with visual intelligence". The assistant launched in developer beta on June 8 in English for U.S. users, with broader availability expected this fall alongside iOS 27.qz+2

China Gets Alibaba's Qwen Instead of Gemini

Apple recently published a guide revealing that Siri AI features in China will be powered by Alibaba's ↗ 3.04% Qwen models rather than Gemini, as Chinese regulations require the use of domestic AI providers. China's Cyberspace Administration approved Apple Intelligence in the country in July 2026, with Alibaba confirming its Qwen model would be integrated across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS.9to5mac+3

The arrangement in China raises privacy concerns. As 9to5Mac reported, Mac users in China will need their own Qwen account and must be signed into it to access the features — a requirement absent from the Gemini-powered version available elsewhere, where neither Apple nor Google has access to user interactions. Apple is also working with Baidu ↘ 0.19% on additional AI features for Chinese users.techcrunch+1

Distribution Over Benchmarks

The partnership gives Google a distribution channel into hundreds of millions of Apple devices worldwide, even as its standalone Gemini app holds a small share of the AI chatbot market. For Apple, the deal resolves what Reuters characterized as "two years of stumbles" in its AI ambitions, allowing it to ship a competitive assistant rather than risk further delays. The arrangement echoes Apple and Google's long-standing search deal, which became central evidence in the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust case against Google — a precedent that competition regulators may revisit as AI integration deepens.tech-insider