Alibaba will partner with Apple to support iPhones' AI services offering in China, its chairman said on Thursday, a move likely to help the U.S. company ease falling smartphone sales in its key market.

Shares in tech giants Apple (AAPL) and Alibaba (BABA) dialed up higher today after reports that they are partnering up to add AI-powered

Apple selected Baidu as its main partner last year, but the company's progress in developing models fell short of its standards, the report said.