Chinese AI agent firms trail US but aim to catch up amid OpenAI advances

Chinese AI agent firms are trailing their US counterparts in commercialization, according to a report by the China International Capital Corporation (CICC). The research highlights that overseas AI agent makers, led by companies like OpenAI, have significantly higher orders and revenues—exceeding Chinese firms by an order of magnitude in 2024-2025. This disparity stems from stronger digital infrastructure and higher IT budgets among US corporate clients.

Key Findings:

Market Penetration: The US had 100 million AI agent users in 2024, representing a 40% adoption rate, while China, with 250 million users, lagged at 17.7%.
Challenges for Chinese Firms: Weak digital infrastructure and macroeconomic pressures have constrained budgets for AI adoption in China.
OpenAI’s Latest Push: On Friday, OpenAI launched a new ChatGPT agent capable of handling complex workflows end-to-end. CEO Sam Altman described it as a "real 'feel the AGI' moment", referencing artificial general intelligence.

Manus faces uncertainty as it laid off most of its staff in Beijing earlier this month. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Industry Outlook:

Despite the gap, Chinese firms are accelerating adoption to compete globally. The rise of AI agents—software that autonomously plans and executes tasks—has become the next frontier after large language models in the generative AI race.

"The macro environment has impacted digitalization budgets, but Chinese companies are catching up," the CICC report noted. The competition is set to intensify as OpenAI and other US firms continue to raise the bar.