China’s internet user population has reached around 1.125 billion people, underscoring the country’s vast digital footprint and creating ideal conditions for the rapid spread of generative artificial intelligence across daily life, workplaces and businesses.
With roughly 80 percent of the population now online, smartphones have become the primary access point for communication, shopping, payments and entertainment. This deep digital integration allows new technologies to scale in China at a pace rarely matched elsewhere.
Generative AI tools capable of producing text and images, analyzing information or supporting coding are being adopted quickly. AI chatbots are increasingly used in customer service, education and office tasks, while AI-driven features are embedded across e-commerce platforms, short-video apps and even government services. For many users, AI has shifted from a novelty to an invisible assistant that improves efficiency and lowers costs.
China’s strength lies not only in the size of its online population but in the structure of its digital ecosystem. Super-apps that combine multiple services enable AI features to reach hundreds of millions of users almost instantly.
Compared with the United States, where AI growth is driven mainly by private firms and enterprise use, China emphasizes rapid deployment and mass adoption. This approach is embedding AI into everyday activities, helping transform artificial intelligence from an emerging technology into a daily utility at unprecedented speed.
