China's AI Dominance Grows with 1,509 Large Models
SHANGHAI – China has firmly established itself as a global superpower in the race for artificial intelligence, having developed and released 1,509 large AI models, a figure that accounts for over 40% of the total number launched worldwide. The staggering data, unveiled at the 2025 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, highlights the immense scale and rapid growth of the nation's comprehensive AI industrial system.
According to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), the country is now home to over 5,100 AI companies and 71 AI unicorns, representing a significant share of the global innovation landscape. The announcement, made by CAICT President Yu Xiaohui, frames China's progress as a key driver of its economic development and a significant step on the path toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
The Scale of Ambition: A Juggernaut of AI Models and Companies
The statistics presented at the WAIC paint a clear picture of a nation executing a deliberate, large-scale strategy for AI dominance. The release of 1,509 large AI models demonstrates a focus on creating a broad and deep foundation for AI innovation. These foundational models are the engines that power a vast array of applications, from chatbots to scientific research.
This massive output is supported by a sprawling corporate ecosystem. China is now home to:
- Over 5,100 AI Companies: Accounting for approximately 15% of the global total.
- 71 AI Unicorns: Startups valued at over $1 billion, representing about 26% of the world's total.
- Over 300 Listed AI Companies: These established firms are the financial backbone, their AI-related revenue constituting an estimated 70% of China's total AI industry scale.
The Engines of Innovation: Tech Giants and Strategic Unicorns
The driving force behind China's AI surge is a combination of its established technology giants and a new wave of highly focused startups. Industry leaders like Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, and Huawei have invested billions in developing their own proprietary large language models.
These tech giants are complemented by the 71 AI unicorns, which are pushing the boundaries in highly strategic sectors. According to the CAICT report, the top five innovation fields for these companies are Large Models, Autonomous Driving, Intelligent Robots, Business Intelligence, and AI Computing Chips.
A State-Driven Strategy for AI Supremacy
Unlike the more market-driven approach of the West, China's success in AI is deeply intertwined with its top-down, state-driven industrial policy. The Chinese government has designated AI as a core strategic technology and a national priority, launching ambitious plans to become the undisputed world leader in the field by 2030.
This strategy involves massive state investment in research, the creation of AI-focused industrial parks in cities like Shanghai, and the cultivation of a vast talent pool. Yu Xiaohui, president of CAICT, noted that this rapidly expanding industry has become a "key growth driver for high-quality economic and social development."
The Global AI Dialogue and the Road to AGI
The theme of the 2025 WAIC, "Global Solidarity in the AI Era," signals China's ambition to be not only a technological leader but also a key player in shaping the international rules that will govern this powerful technology.
Yu Xiaohui also touched upon the ultimate goal of many in the field: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), or the creation of machines with human-level cognitive abilities. He noted that the "rapid iteration of foundational large models... demonstrated significant potential for progress toward AGI."
While AGI remains a distant goal, the immense progress in large language models is a critical stepping stone. China's massive investment and the sheer volume of models it is producing are a clear indication that it intends to be at the forefront of this transformative pursuit, despite challenges like the ongoing "chip war" with the United States.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency