China's AI-Native Apps Surge to 499 Million Monthly Active Users
China's artificial intelligence-native applications have experienced significant growth, reaching a total of 499 million monthly active users by May 2026. This figure represents an impressive 85.4% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. The data comes from QuestMobile's report on the first half of 2026, which was published on July 14. The report highlights the leading applications in this rapidly expanding sector. Doubao emerged as the most popular, boasting 382 million monthly active users. Following closely behind were Qwen with 167 million users and DeepSeek with 130 million users. QuestMobile specifically tracked these AI-native apps, distinguishing them from broader internet services.
The rapid user adoption of AI-native applications in China, as detailed by QuestMobile, signifies a substantial shift in digital consumer behavior and the burgeoning influence of generative AI technologies. This growth trajectory suggests that Chinese consumers are increasingly integrating AI-powered tools into their daily digital routines, potentially reshaping market dynamics for established internet platforms. The concentration of users among the top three applications—Doubao, Qwen, and DeepSeek—indicates a competitive landscape where early movers are capturing significant market share. Future developments will likely focus on how these platforms evolve their offerings, address user retention beyond initial novelty, and navigate the evolving regulatory environment for AI services in China. This trend also points to the potential for AI-native applications to become foundational elements of the digital economy over the next decade.
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