Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 20, China had 515 million generative artificial intelligence (AI) users as of June 2025, with the user base doubling within six months, according to a report released on Saturday by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC). The report showed an increase of 266 million users compared with December 2024, raising the national user penetration rate to 36.5 percent.

The report indicated that generative AI has been increasingly integrated into daily life across China, becoming widely adopted among diverse social groups. Young, middle-aged, and highly educated users were identified as the main demographic segments. Specifically, 74.6 percent of users are under 40 years old, and 37.5 percent hold a junior college degree or higher, reflecting the growing digital proficiency of the population.

CNNIC noted that Chinese-developed generative AI models have gained strong popularity among domestic users, with applications expanding into intelligent search, content creation, office assistance, and smart devices. Beyond consumer use, generative AI technologies are also being actively applied in key sectors such as agriculture, industrial manufacturing, and scientific research, highlighting their potential to improve productivity and innovation efficiency.

The report further pointed out that China’s role in the global AI landscape continues to strengthen. As of April 2025, the country had filed 1.576 million AI-related patent applications, accounting for 38.58 percent of the world total—the highest share among all countries. This underscores China’s growing capacity for technological innovation and research in the field of artificial intelligence.

At the 2025 China Internet Infrastructure Resources Conference held in Beijing on Saturday, CNNIC Director Liu Yulin emphasized the significance of this rapid expansion. Liu said: “AI has evolved from a laboratory concept into a mature service supporting hundreds of millions of users.” He added that the sharp rise in generative AI adoption marks a transition “from trial use to everyday application” nationwide.

According to CNNIC, the fast-paced growth of AI users demonstrates the country’s strong digital transformation momentum and the increasing integration of AI into economic and social activities. The organization noted that this trend is fostering a more intelligent, efficient, and data-driven environment, with AI expected to play a growing role in supporting future industrial upgrades and technological development.

Overall, the report reflects China’s steady advancement in generative AI adoption, innovation, and application, signaling a new stage in the country’s digital progress. With continued efforts to enhance accessibility and innovation capacity, generative AI is expected to further contribute to technological advancement and economic modernization across multiple sectors in the coming years.