Apple users in China can now connect Siri to Alibaba’s Qwen AI service. This move gives Apple a locally available AI option as it faces rising competition in China’s personal computer market. Local companies such as Huawei and Lenovo have been adding their own AI powered features to computers, putting pressure on Apple.
How Qwen Powers Siri and Writing Tools
According to Reuters, Apple’s newly update Chinese-language guide how eligible Mac users in mainland China can activate a Qwen extension and connect it to Apple’s built-in features. Once enabled, Qwen can work with Siri to offer more detailed answers to certain requests, Users can also ask Siri to analyse photos and documents using the AI service.
Apple’s Writing Tools can similarly use Qwen to help create content. The feature can generate text and images based on descriptions provided by users.
The integration is available for Macs running macOS 26.6 or later and comes with conditions specific to users in China. Customers also need to sign in to a Qwen account after activating the extension.
Apple’s guide says Alibaba will not be allowed to use the material processed through the service to train or improve its AI models.
The new AI integration comes at a difficult time for Apple’s Mac business in mainland China.
According to Omdia data cited in the report, Apple shipped around 8,00,000 Macs in China during the first quarter, down nine per cent from the same period a year earlier. Apple held about nine per cent of the country’s PC market.
Lenovo remained far ahead with a 31 per cent share, while Huawei accounted for 16 per cent as its PC business continued to grow.
AI has become an increasingly important part of the competition. Lenovo has positioned its Tianxi personal AI agent as a major part of its AI PC strategy. Huawei, meanwhile, is adding AI capabilities throughout its HarmonyOS ecosystem.
