As of December, over 600 million Chinese were using generative AI, marking a 142% increase from the previous year, according to the China Internet Network Information Center. This surge in AI usage was evident as crowds gathered in Beijing and Shenzhen to install AI assistants like OpenClaw on their devices. The widespread adoption of AI in China follows the introduction of advanced AI models by companies like DeepSeek, a rival to the U.S.-based OpenAI. While American AI models still lead in computing power, China’s rapid embrace of AI technology has made it a significant testing ground for these tools. Chinese citizens are integrating AI into daily activities such as travel planning, food ordering, and ride-hailing. The increased use of AI has also led to a rise in data consumption, with Chinese AI models recently surpassing their U.S. counterparts in data usage, as reported by OpenRouter.
QUESTION: How might the rapid adoption of AI technology in China influence the future of global technological advancements?
Why China’s feverish use of AI tools could shape how the tech is used globally
