According to the latest data from research firm QuestMobile, as of the end of November 2024, the number of monthly active users for AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) applications in China has surpassed 100 million. Among them, Doubao, a product of ByteDance, has performed exceptionally well, capturing half of the market share thanks to its strong user base. Meanwhile, Baidu's Wenxiaoyan and Kimi, developed by the Dark Side of the Moon, have also secured their positions in the market.
With the rapid growth of AIGC applications, user numbers are gradually concentrating among leading companies. Data shows that Doubao experienced significant user growth in the first half of 2024, jumping from 27.51 million at the end of June to 56 million in November. Kimi also showed impressive performance, with its monthly active users rapidly increasing since October, reaching 22 million in November, surpassing Baidu's Wenxiaoyan.
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, image licensed by Midjourney
It is noteworthy that despite the intense market competition, no AIGC application has achieved a truly killer breakthrough. Many startups face immense pressure on their path to commercialization. Wang Yi, Chief Operating Officer of Mita, stated that the current market environment forces companies to quickly prove their profitability, especially in China, where startups are facing a particularly harsh financing landscape.
In terms of traffic, the ecosystems of major players like Doubao and Wenxiaoyan provide strong support. The high user activity on Douyin allows Doubao to easily attract users, while the layout of the Baidu APP greatly benefits Wenxiaoyan. This gives these leading applications a clear advantage in the market.
However, against the backdrop of fierce competition, some AIGC applications have seen a decline in user activity. For example, the monthly active users of the Tiangong APP developed by Kunlun Wanwei fell from 5.6 million at the end of June to 4 million by the end of November, indicating that market pressure is gradually shifting towards mid-tier and lower-tier applications.
Overall, China's AIGC application market is experiencing rapid development and fierce competition. While leading companies like Doubao show strong growth momentum, the entire industry is still waiting for a truly super APP to emerge. In the future, as user habits develop and technology continues to advance, AIGC applications are expected to encounter new development opportunities.