Apple Uses Alibaba AI Amid Pentagon Allegations
Apple integrates Alibaba’s AI in China amid Pentagon claims of military ties.
2 min read
Apple is integrating AI features powered by Alibaba, a company the Pentagon has labeled as a Chinese military entity, into its iPhones. A test version of Apple Intelligence was released with iOS 27.3, and the company began testing its AI features on Chinese users through an Alibaba content filter, according to Bloomberg.
Pentagon Labels Alibaba as Chinese Military Company
The Pentagon added Alibaba to its list of “Chinese military companies” on June 8, stating the firm is tied to China’s military through the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Alibaba denied the allegations in a lawsuit filed on June 23, as reported by Reuters.
Alibaba and Apple Collaborate on AI Features
Alibaba’s content filter approves ongoing updates to a localized version of Apple Intelligence in China in coordination with the government, Bloomberg reported. However, Apple’s newest Siri AI features, which depend on Alphabet’s models, will not be released there.
Apple’s AI Tools and Features
The Apple Intelligence tools include a test version of Live Rewind for Apple Watch, which listens and records conversations through users’ Apple devices. Live Rewind “recalls what was just said in the last 15 seconds by showing a text snippet on your Apple Watch,” the company states. Another feature, Siri Recap, records users’ conversations and generates notes that delete after one week unless saved and can be exported to other applications for review. Users have the choice to opt out of using these AI features.
Health App Update and Political Pressure
iOS 27.3 also updated Apple’s Health app with more detailed health tracking capabilities, including data about users’ hearts, hearing, nutrition, metabolic levels, and mental health in the app’s Longevity tab.
Apple faced pressure from the White House and the House Select Committee on China in May 2025 over its choice to partner with Alibaba for releasing phones in China, according to the New York Times. Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois suggested that Alibaba could use Apple’s technology for distillation and improvement of its own models.
Source: Daily Caller
