China: AI Phone and PC Sales Expected to Surpass Non-AI Products This Year

Sales of AI-enabled smartphones and personal computers are projected to surpass non-AI alternatives for the first time this year, according to China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). In the previous year, annual shipments of smart devices, including AI phones and PCs, exceeded 100 million units, with significant growth anticipated to continue.

The NDRC has collaborated with relevant departments and local authorities to establish over 30 national AI application pilot bases and encourage central and state-owned enterprises to open more than 1,000 application scenarios. The overall penetration rate of artificial intelligence within key industries has now surpassed 80 percent.

Monthly usage for AI-native office agents in China has exceeded 20 million, with trillions of tokens processed daily, indicating a substantial increase from the previous year. This surge highlights the burgeoning development of new products and business formats driven by the "AI+" initiative.

Market research firm Counterpoint Research previously forecast that devices supporting generative AI would account for 45 percent of global smartphone shipments in 2026, rising to 52 percent by 2027. In parallel, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a plan in June to foster "AI + Information and Communication" innovation through 2028, emphasizing the development of AI smartphones, PCs, and other smart terminal products.