Artificial Intelligence (AI) in China is on the rise! As of January 28, 2026, the number of AI companies has exceeded 6,000, with projections estimating the AI economy to surpass 1.2 trillion yuan, reflecting a growth rate of over 30%. The national output of AI-related products has reached a staggering 100 billion instances, making China the largest country specializing in AI, accounting for over 60% of global AI applications.
These figures paint a picture of China’s AI development trajectory by 2025. On one hand, there is a technological breakthrough in AI, diverging from the U.S.-led “open-source innovation” route. On the other hand, the collaboration between AI and the economic landscape has deepened substantially. Since last month, companies like Zhiwen, Turing, and MiniMax have been making significant advancements in the AI sector.
At the recent “AGI-Next” summit hosted by Tsinghua University, industry experts discussed the importance of conversational AI, emphasizing the shift towards “intelligent entities” in the age of AI. The year 2026 is projected to be a pivotal year for the development of AI in China, aligning with the “Five-Year Plan” recommendations.
According to the “Five-Year Plan,” China aims to strengthen the development of AI-related industries, enhance infrastructure, improve citizen welfare, and integrate social governance. By 2025, the focus will be on enhancing AI capabilities across various sectors. Recently, the Chinese government has been emphasizing the need for AI development in collaboration with leading universities and enterprises to explore new trends in AI advancement.
Technologically, the focus is shifting from “data-driven” approaches to “intelligence-enhanced” strategies, as AI strives for greater efficiency and effectiveness. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that China’s AI computing power has reached over 1590 EFLOPS, ranking it among the top globally.
As a result, AI companies are expected to increasingly integrate AI technologies into their operations, improving efficiency and enhancing service quality. The proliferation of AI applications is anticipated to create a more vibrant economic environment, benefiting sectors such as finance, healthcare, and education.
In summary, the future of AI in China will be shaped by ongoing advancements in technology, the integration of AI into various industries, and the strategic collaboration between government, academia, and businesses. As AI continues to evolve, its influence will expand, making it an essential component of China’s economic landscape.
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