By Eduardo Baptista
BEIJING (Reuters) – A recent survey has revealed that China is at the forefront of adopting generative AI, showcasing the country’s significant progress in this technology that gained global attention following the launch of U.S.-based OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022.
According to a survey conducted by U.S. AI and analytics software company SAS and Coleman Parkes Research, 83% of Chinese respondents reported using generative AI, surpassing the adoption rates of 16 other countries and regions included in the study. In comparison, only 65% of respondents in the United States had adopted GenAI, with the global average standing at 54%.
The industries surveyed spanned banking, insurance, healthcare, telecommunications, manufacturing, retail, and energy sectors, highlighting China’s rapid advancements in generative AI. The country’s momentum in this field was further solidified by a recent report from the United Nations’ World Intellectual Property Organization, which indicated that China leads in GenAI patent filings.
Despite restrictions on international generative AI service providers in China, the country has cultivated a thriving domestic industry, with major tech companies like ByteDance and startups like Zhipu offering their own versions of generative AI solutions.
Moreover, the SAS report identified China as the global leader in continuous automated monitoring (CAM), a controversial application of generative AI tools. This technology enables the collection and analysis of extensive user data, raising concerns about privacy infringements and lack of transparency in data usage.
Udo Sglavo, vice president of applied AI and modelling at SAS, noted that China’s advancements in CAM align with its strategy to dominate the artificial intelligence and surveillance technology sectors. As the country continues to innovate in generative AI, enterprise adoption is expected to accelerate, driven by competitive pricing and enhanced services.
“China’s progress in CAM underscores its commitment to advancing AI technologies and reinforces its position as a global leader in this space,” Sglavo added.