Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping China’s digital marketing ecosystem, with hundreds of millions of users now interacting with generative AI tools as part of their daily online activity.
According to data cited from the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), China had approximately 1.125 billion internet users by the end of 2025, including around 602 million generative AI users, representing roughly 42.8 percent of the country’s population.
The figures illustrate how quickly AI-powered technologies have moved from experimental tools to mainstream digital services within China’s online economy.
Industry surveys indicate that more than 80 percent of AI users interact with AI-powered systems on a daily basis, using them for tasks ranging from information search and automated writing to image generation and digital productivity tools.
Analysts say the rapid growth of generative AI adoption is beginning to transform multiple areas of China’s digital economy, particularly within marketing, advertising and e-commerce.
Artificial intelligence tools are increasingly used across the full marketing workflow, including consumer data analysis, marketing content generation, automated advertising optimisation and customer service automation.
According to estimates from research firm iResearch, China’s internet advertising market reached 1.13 trillion yuan (approximately US$156 billion) in 2023, representing year-on-year growth of 12.4 percent.
Short-video platforms and livestream commerce have also accelerated the adoption of AI-driven marketing tools. Brands are increasingly using AI systems to produce advertising copy, short-form video content and product descriptions at scale.
Meanwhile, China’s broader artificial intelligence industry continues to expand rapidly. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) indicates that more than 6,000 companies are now active within China’s AI ecosystem.
Micky Liu, spokesperson for Gogetop Marketing, said the growing integration of AI tools into everyday digital activity is changing how companies approach marketing in China.
“Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in workflows that directly influence revenue generation,” Liu said. “From content creation and advertising optimisation to livestream commerce operations, AI technologies are becoming a core component of modern marketing infrastructure.”
The analysis referenced in this release forms part of ongoing research into China’s evolving digital marketing ecosystem.
