China’s Generative AI Users Top 700 Million, Official Data Shows

China reported a generative artificial intelligence user base of more than 700 million at the end of June, with official data showing the technology now reaches more than half of the country’s population.

Official data shows rapid expansion

The user base data was released Tuesday by the China Internet Network Information Centre.

The figure marked a 16 per cent increase from the end of 2025, when China had 602 million generative AI users and a penetration rate of 42.8 per cent.

The latest total pushed generative AI’s penetration rate to a record high in the country, according to the reported data.

That scale places generative AI among widely used digital technologies in China, as adoption has moved across common tasks such as answering questions, processing media and preparing work-related material.

Question-and-answer tools remain the leading use

Question-and-answer services remained the most common use of generative AI in China.

In a survey of users, 76 per cent said they used the technology to seek answers.

Nearly half of users, or 48 per cent, employed AI tools to process images or videos.

Another 38 per cent used generative AI for text processing.

The data also showed that 33 per cent used the technology for work summaries, meeting notes or presentations.

Adoption extends beyond software

The report said AI adoption had also expanded beyond software.

Some 39 per cent of users had bought smart hardware online during the past six months.

Together, the figures show that generative AI use in China is not limited to a single activity, with users applying it to search-style answers, media processing, text tasks and workplace documentation.

The China Internet Network Information Centre data also indicates that online smart hardware purchases are part of the broader pattern of AI-related adoption.

Source: South China Morning Post