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The adoption of generative AI in China is experiencing explosive growth. The China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) reports the user base has doubled in the last six months, now encompassing a staggering 515 million individuals. This surge is largely driven by young and middle-aged, highly educated professionals.

Fueled by a strong preference for domestic solutions, over 90% of users favor local AI models. Platforms such as DeepSeek, Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen, and ByteDance’s Doubao are witnessing a surge in popularity.

This rapid expansion mirrors Beijing’s strategic “AI Plus” initiative. Bolstering this growth, China boasts the world’s highest number of AI-related patent applications, totaling 1.576 million as of April 2025. The sustainability of this remarkable growth for Chinese AI platforms will be closely monitored in the near future.