While the Western world watches giants like Apple and Google spearhead mobile AI advancements, China has been independently cultivating a vibrant and rapidly evolving AI landscape throughout 2024.
For smartphone users in the Chinese mainland, AI is not just a future promise but a present reality. Domestic brands, which command a significantly higher market share compared to Apple's sub-20 percent presence, have seamlessly integrated a wide array of AI-powered features into their devices.
These AI functionalities span from practical photo editing tools, such as AI-powered background removal and content filling, to AI writing assistants that craft polished social media posts and auto-transcription services that convert audio recordings into editable text. Far from being niche novelties, these features are now standard offerings in the mainstream Chinese mobile experience.
In 2024, the Cyberspace Administration of China registered 210 generative AI services, a substantial increase from the 62 registered in 2023. Many of these services are directly integrated into popular smartphones, powering virtual assistants like Honor’s YOYO, Xiaomi’s Xiaoai, and Oppo’s AndesGPT.
The integration of AI extends beyond smartphones into various mobile apps. E-commerce giant Taobao offers AI-driven shopping experiences through its \"Xingchen\" model, ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing leverages AI to optimize routes and enhance user experience, and workplace collaboration tool DingTalk provides AI-powered assistants to streamline workflows. These diverse applications demonstrate the pervasive integration of AI into everyday life in China.
Additionally, 2024 has witnessed the emergence of specialized, industry-focused AI models addressing specific needs in sectors such as education, healthcare, logistics, telecommunications, and security.
Government support has been instrumental in China’s rapid AI advancement. The \"AI+\" initiative, highlighted in the 2024 government work report in May and reiterated during December’s Central Economic Work Conference, emphasizes the integration of AI into various industries to accelerate economic growth.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
