TLDR: A recent report from the Cyberspace Administration of China reveals that the number of registered users for generative artificial intelligence (AI) services in China has surpassed 600 million by the end of 2024. This significant milestone underscores the rapid expansion and integration of AI across various sectors, with over 300 generative AI services having completed registration and the core AI industry reaching nearly 600 billion yuan.
China has achieved a remarkable milestone in the adoption of generative artificial intelligence, with over 600 million registered users for its AI services by the close of 2024, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Cyberspace Administration of China. This substantial growth highlights the nation’s accelerating digital transformation and the widespread integration of AI across diverse industries.
The report, which details China’s informatization progress in 2024, indicates that a total of 302 generative AI services have successfully completed registration, with 238 new products added throughout the year. Several leading large-model applications have demonstrated impressive performance, surpassing 30 million daily active users and ranking among the highest globally.
Generative AI services are now broadly applied across various fields, including audiovisual entertainment, cultural creativity, and medical consultation. Zhang Guangyao, deputy director of the network technology management bureau under the Cyberspace Administration of China, emphasized the nation’s proactive efforts in promoting open-source AI development. He highlighted ModelScope, which has emerged as China’s largest repository of AI models, hosting over 70,000 models and serving 16 million developers worldwide, with contributions from more than 500 organizations. The report also noted that ModelScope has attracted over 8 million developers globally to participate in its open-source ecosystem.
In 2024, China’s core AI industry experienced significant expansion, reaching nearly 600 billion yuan (approximately $84 billion). The industrial chain encompasses critical components, from chips and algorithms to platforms and applications, demonstrating a comprehensive and robust AI ecosystem. Zhao Zhiguo, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), further stated that the number of domestic enterprises in the core AI industry now exceeds 4,500, with nearly 200 large-scale generative AI service models having completed filing and actively providing services to the public.
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Experts view the surge in registered AI users as a pivotal indicator of digital transformation, akin to the benchmarks previously set by internet and mobile internet users. Li Baiyang, Associate Professor of Intelligence Studies at Nanjing University, noted that by October 2024, China’s AI industry had secured a leading global position in both open-source and closed-source AI models. This rapid growth is attributed to a combination of technological innovation and increasing market demand. Analysts describe AI’s role as a ‘combustion engine,’ powering the modernization of China’s industrial system.
