Global Markets
Home›Global Markets›Asia›AI token use in China surges, fueling a token based ec…
AI token use in China surges, fueling a token based economy
China’s daily AI token consumption rose from about 100 billion tokens per day in early 2024 to 100 trillion by end of last year, with usage topping 140 trillion tokens in March.
Chinese tech industry experts say the steep rise in AI token usage is pushing China toward a token based economy, where the small units that power AI services are becoming a core input for delivering and pricing those products. According to SCMP Economy, tokens are described as the fundamental units AI models use to process and generate information, supporting tasks from chatbot conversations to high quality video production.
The outlet cited National Bureau of Statistics data showing daily AI token consumption in China climbed more than 1,000 fold over just over two years, rising from roughly 100 billion tokens per day at the start of 2024 to 100 trillion tokens by the end of last year. Daily usage also exceeded 140 trillion tokens in March, which SCMP Economy said is equivalent to about 100,000 tokens per person based on China’s population of roughly 1.4 billion.
Experts characterized the shift as moving beyond a technical metric, with tokens described as a new production factor linking AI model capability, computing resources, and commercial value. SCMP Economy also tied the surge to companies adopting AI to increase productivity and automate business operations.