At 3:31 AM Beijing time on March 31, 2026, the beta version of Apple's generative AI service, Apple Intelligence, was activated in batches on some devices that had been upgraded to iOS 26.4 or above in China. Although this feature brought a brand-new Siri interface and covered core collaboration tools such as photo erasure, smart emoji, real-time translation, and visual intelligence, a large number of users reported that the activation process was unstable, and the critical GPT extension plugin could not function properly.
However, this highly anticipated launch was subsequently suggested to possibly be an "accident." According to veteran Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman's latest report, the activation of Apple Intelligence in China was an unplanned and accidental launch. Gurman pointed out that although the relevant features have been technically ready for months, Apple has not yet obtained final approval from Chinese regulatory authorities, and there is currently no clear near-term release schedule. This incident is also unrelated to the ongoing iOS 26.5 testing cycle.
Signs supporting the "accident theory" are quite evident: First, Apple rarely releases major features in a strategic market like China without an official announcement; second, a launch in the early morning does not align with its usual product release rhythm; the most critical evidence is that the Google Reverse Image Search function included in this test version cannot connect properly within China.
Currently, Apple has taken emergency measures to take it offline. Many users have reported that after clicking download in the "Apple Intelligence and Siri" settings, the progress bar no longer appears. This incident once again highlights the compliance challenges and technical adaptation complexities faced by top-tier terminal manufacturers when deploying AI services in China.
