By introducing a 3×3 matrix Lie algebra and employing the generalized Tu scheme, a AKNS isospectral–nonisospectral integrable hierarchy is generated by using a third-order matrix Lie algebra. Through a matrix transformation, we turn the 3×3 matrix Lie algebra into a 2×2 matrix case for which we conveniently enlarge it into two various expanding Lie algebras in order to obtain two different expanding integrable models of the isospectral–nonisospectral AKNS hierarchy by employing the integrable coupling theory. Specially, we propose a method for generating nonlinear integrable couplings for the first time, and produce a generalized KdV-Schrödinger integrable system and a nonlocal nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which indicates that we unite the KdV equation and the nonlinear Schrödinger equation as an integrable model by our method. This method presented in the paper could apply to investigate other integrable systems.