China is quickly becoming a global powerhouse in artificial intelligence, with homegrown tech firms leading the charge in everything from robotics and drone technology to natural language processing and generative AI.
While Silicon Valley might still grab the headlines, China’s AI scene is growing at a jaw-dropping pace—fuelled by heavy investment, government support and a relentless drive to innovate.
From the academic roots of SenseTime to the creative ambitions of MiniMax AI and the world-dominating drones of DJI, these companies are not just catching up—they’re setting new benchmarks.
Whether you’re curious about the brains behind your favourite chatbot, the tech powering smart cities or the future of autonomous agents, China’s AI ecosystem is buzzing with groundbreaking developments.
The Reasons Behind China’s AI Boost in Recent Years
China’s AI sector has witnessed explosive growth over the past year, driven by a confluence of strategic policy, technological innovation and market demand.
Central to this surge is DeepSeek, a Hangzhou-based startup founded in July 2023, which has disrupted the industry with its cost-effective and efficient AI models. DeepSeek’s R1 model, released in January 2025, achieved performance levels comparable to leading Western models like GPT-4, but at a fraction of the cost and computational resources.
This breakthrough has led to widespread adoption across various sectors in China, from smartphones and home appliances to healthcare and government services, resulting in a pretty big scare across the industry globally.
The Chinese government’s emphasis on self-reliance in AI development, coupled with substantial investments and a focus on practical applications, has further accelerated this growth.
DeepSeek’s open-weight model approach and integration into major platforms like WeChat and Baidu Search exemplify China’s strategy of leveraging domestic innovation to enhance its global competitiveness in AI.
Top 10 AI Companies in China
Here are the top 10 budding AI companies in China that are expected to make waves in 2025 and beyond.
SenseTime
Established in 2014 in Hong Kong by Professor Tang Xiao’ou and Xu Li, SenseTime has emerged as a leader in computer vision and deep learning.
The company offers a range of AI-powered solutions, including facial recognition, autonomous driving systems and smart city applications. Its success is attributed to strong academic foundations and strategic partnerships with global tech firms.
SenseTime distinguishes itself through a focus on research excellence, contributing significantly to AI publications and benchmarks.
MiniMax AI
MiniMax was founded in December 2021 in Shanghai by former SenseTime engineers – it focuses on developing advanced AI models, including text-to-video generation tools.
The company gained rapid traction with substantial investments from Alibaba and Tencent, reflecting confidence in its innovative capabilities.
MiniMax sets itself apart by targeting creative applications of AI, aiming to rival global leaders like OpenAI in generative media technologies.
Manus
Manus is an autonomous AI agent designed to perform complex tasks without human intervention. It utilises models such as Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Alibaba’s Qwen.
This forward-thinking AI startup has sparked debate due to its advanced capabilities and the ethical considerations of autonomous AI.
Its distinction lies in its agentic design, allowing it to independently manage multifaceted operations, a step beyond traditional AI assistants.
Founded in 2009, Weibo is a prominent Chinese social media platform that’s often compared to Elon Musk’s X. While it’s not an AI company per se, Weibo employs AI extensively for content moderation, personalised recommendations and trend analysis.
Its success stems from its massive user base and integration of AI to enhance user engagement. Weibo’s AI applications are tailored to manage the unique challenges of China’s digital landscape, setting it apart from global counterparts.
DJI
DJI is a global leader in drone manufacturing, commanding over 90% of the consumer drone market as of 2024.
Established in 2006 in Shenzhen by Frank Wang, the company’s success is driven by its commitment to innovation, producing drones widely used in photography, agriculture and even emergency services.
DJI differentiates itself through its advanced stabilisation technologies and user-friendly designs, maintaining a competitive edge in both consumer and professional markets.
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Agibot
Agibot is a Chinese AI company specialising in robotics and intelligent automation solutions. Its focus includes developing AI-powered robots for various industries, enhancing efficiency and productivity.
Agibot’s success is attributed to its integration of AI with practical robotics applications, addressing real-world challenges.
What sets Agibot apart is its emphasis on creating adaptable robotic systems capable of learning and evolving within dynamic environments.
Zhipu
Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from Tsinghua University, Zhipu AI is based in Beijing and specialises in large language models (LLMs).
The company has developed models like GLM-4-Air, offering high performance with efficient resource utilisation.
Zhipu AI’s success is bolstered by significant investments from tech giants and government-backed funds. Its commitment to open-source initiatives and cost-effective solutions distinguishes it in China’s competitive AI landscape.
Hunyuan
Hunyuan is an AI model developed by Tencent, a Chinese multinational tech conglomerate, focusing on natural language processing and understanding. It aims to enhance Tencent’s services by providing advanced AI capabilities across its platforms.
Hunyuan’s success lies in its integration within Tencent’s vast ecosystem, enabling seamless user experiences. Its differentiation comes from its deep integration with Tencent’s diverse applications, offering tailored AI solutions within a unified framework.
Qwen
Developed by Alibaba Cloud, Qwen is a family of large language models first released in 2023. The latest version, Qwen 3, launched in April 2025, features hybrid reasoning capabilities and supports multimodal inputs.
Qwen’s success is driven by Alibaba’s robust infrastructure and commitment to open-source development. Its adaptability and performance in various applications, from chatbots to enterprise solutions, set it apart from competitors.
Doubao
Doubao is an AI chatbot developed by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. It has gained significant popularity in China, surpassing competitors like Baidu’s Ernie Bot.
Doubao’s success is generally attributed to ByteDance’s strategic investments in AI infrastructure and talent acquisition. Its distinction lies in its integration with ByteDance’s content platforms, offering users an interactive and engaging AI experience quite unlike anything else in the market.
