China Tops AI with 1,509 Models, Aiming to Lead Global AI Rules

China has established a leading position in the global development of AI, creating over 1,500 large-scale models. This figure, representing a significant percentage of the world's total, positions the nation at the forefront of the technology sector.

According to a report from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), presented at the World AI Conference (WAIC), the country has developed 1,509 AI models. This number accounts for about 40% of the global total, which the academy places at 3,755.

China's dominance in the AI sector is the result of a structured and rapidly expanding industrial ecosystem. The country is home to more than 5,100 specialized AI companies, equivalent to 15% of the global total. Among these, 71 are classified as "unicorns" — startup companies with a valuation exceeding US$1 billion. This represents 26% of all AI unicorns worldwide, argues the report.

According to Yu Xiaohui, President, CAICT, China's AI ecosystem now features a synergy among large technology conglomerates, highly specialized companies, and a constant flow of new ventures. This structure, supported by rapid evolution in base models, creates the conditions to advance toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), Xiaohui says.

The economic engine of this industry is concentrated in publicly traded companies and unicorns. These two groups generate about 70% of all AI-related revenue in the country, reads the report.

Innovation within China's AI sector is directed toward high-value strategic and commercial fields. The areas with the highest concentration of unicorns, and therefore disruptive investment, are large language models, autonomous driving, intelligent robotics, and business intelligence applications. This diversification demonstrates a comprehensive strategy that spans from fundamental hardware like computing chips to advanced software applications.

During his address at the WAIC, Chinese Premier Li Qiang advocated for AI development to remain "under human control" and proposed that the technology become "a global public good." The country’s proposal, according to China Daily Asia, seeks to position the country not only as a production leader but also as a central actor in defining the rules that will govern this transformative technology.

The United States, on the other hand, is more focused on reducing domestic regulations, according to the report. For companies operating globally, this strategic divergence signals a future of potential fragmentation in AI standards and regulations.