China had more than 700 million generative artificial intelligence (AI) users as of the first half of 2026, with an adoption rate exceeding 50 percent, according to a report released on Tuesday.
The China Internet Network Information Center released the findings during the 7th China Internet Infrastructure Resources Conference in Beijing.
According to the report, 36.1 percent of Chinese internet users are using AI assistants built into their smartphones, while 35.5 percent use AI applications on mobile devices. In terms of the purposes for which users turn to AI services, answering questions remains the most widespread use case, accounting for 76 percent. Generating images and videos, writing documents, and organizing work summaries and meeting minutes are also relatively common, at 47.8 percent, 37.6 percent, and 32.5 percent, respectively.
"By the first half of 2026, the number of generative AI users in China had surpassed 700 million, with a penetration rate exceeding 50 percent - a further increase from the end of last year. This reflects not only a growing number of users, but also new changes in user structure and consumer demand. From the perspective of user structure, the user base has shifted from a small group of early adopters to widespread public adoption. User growth is no longer driven merely by the novelty of new technology, but increasingly by practical needs in work, study, and daily life," said Wang Peng, director of the China Internet Network Information Center.
The report shows that as of July this year, AI general assistants, AI search engines, and AI life assistants were the three most-used categories of applications among Chinese internet users, with average monthly usage far exceeding other categories.
On the supply side, AI applications are equally abundant and diverse. As of June this year, a total of 988 generative AI services had completed filing with the Cyberspace Administration of China, while 598 generative AI applications or functions had been registered with local cyberspace administrations.
"According to the general pattern of the diffusion of innovations, when the penetration rate of a new technology approaches 50 percent, it signals that the technology is entering an inflection point in its growth curve: the pace of new user acquisition will begin to slow, and the industry's focus will shift from scale expansion to quality improvement and value creation. Going forward, therefore, we must not only continue to pay attention to the deepening application of generative AI, standards and norms, security governance, and the industrial ecosystem, but also proactively address the social impacts it may bring - in particular, protecting the rights and interests of digitally disadvantaged groups and enhancing the capacity of workers to adapt to occupational transitions," said Chao Lemen, deputy director of the Intelligent Information Analysis Research Center at Renmin University of China.
China's generative AI users top 700 mln: report
As the U.S.-Canada tension over trade and tariff escalates, Canada is aiming to diversify its export structure while seeking to negotiate with its southern neighbor, Wang Yaojing, associate professor of economics at Peking University noted.
As part of the responsive measure by the Trump administration to Canada's tariff retaliation on a range of U.S. goods earlier this month following a breakdown in trade talks, the United States banned several Canadian imports of alcohol, dairy, and motorcycles, which has taken effect on Tuesday.
While the new trade ban is considered part of the U.S. move to manipulate its partners with trade policy, the strategy is a double-edged sword for the country, said the professor.
"I think Washington is trying to use access to the U.S. market as leverage to force Canada to make concessions on issues such as dairy, alcohol, autos, and even the broader market access. Moving from tariffs to outright importer restrictions itself is sending a much stronger message. And there is also a wider strategic point here. The U.S. is increasingly treating trade policy as part of the national power even towards close allies. But I also want to mention that is that the leverage on the U.S. is not cost-free. The Canada has already retaliated I think against roughly 20 billion worth of American goods. it can hurt Canada, U.S. exporters, raise cost of retailers and consumers for both countries and also create uncertainty across the highly integrated North America supply chain," she said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
As the cross-border rivalry escalates, the EU has proposed to make Canada its first associate member. While the unexpected move provides Canada with a new choice to diversify its overly reliant export structure, Europe cannot completely replace the United States to support Canadian economy, according to Wang.
"The current trade tension with Washington have reminded Canada just how dependent it is still on the U.S. market. And roughly two thirds of Canada exports still go south of the border. And that is why the EU proposal is very interesting, even though this idea of Canada becoming an associate member is still quite vague. But the political signal is very clear. Both sides want a closer relationship not only in trade, but also in defense technology, critical minerals, and Arctic security. But at the same time, Europe cannot simply replace the U.S. So, I would describe this relationship as becoming more triangular," she said.
The U.S. attempt to pressure its neighbor has triggered public resentment. A recent poll from CTV News, Canada's major broadcast TV network, showed that over 80 percent of Canadians support the country's tit-for-tat tariffs on U.S. imports, laying solid political foundation for Canada to hold its position, Wang noted.
"For many Canadians, the dispute is no longer viewed simply as a technical disagreement over tariffs. It has increasingly become a question of economic sovereignty and whether Canada should push back against the pressure from its much larger neighbor. And that matters politically because it gives the Canadian government more room to maintain a relatively firm negotiation position. But at the same time, public support does not automatically remove the economic constraints. And if this escalation prolongs, it could hurt jobs, investment, and supply chains. So, the Canadian government has an incentive to appear firm domestically while continuing to look for and negotiate a settlement and, as we just talked about, to increasingly diversify trade toward Europe and other markets," she said.
Trade tension with US prompts Canada to diversify trade structure: expert
