China is witnessing a dramatic surge in active AI agents, with the number expected to skyrocket from nearly 5 million in 2026 to an impressive 197 million by 2030. This represents a staggering compound annual growth rate of 151.2% over the period.
AI Agents Undergoing Transformation
A recent report, the 2026 China Artificial Intelligence Computing Power Development Assessment Report, highlights a significant shift in artificial intelligence capabilities. AI is transitioning from primarily generating content to actively executing tasks. This evolution is driving the exponential growth in active AI agents globally.
Globally, the number of active AI agents is projected to increase from 79.4 million in 2026 to a remarkable 2.216 billion by 2030. Within this global trend, China’s AI agent ecosystem is poised for exceptional expansion.
Massive Growth in AI Computing Power Market
This boom in AI agent activity is directly fueling the demand for computing power, leading to an accelerated expansion in market investment. The report forecasts that the global AI computing power market will reach an astounding $1.25 trillion (approximately 8.39 trillion RMB) by 2030.
China’s contribution to this market is also set for explosive growth. The Chinese AI computing power market is expected to hit $150.1 billion (approximately 1.01 trillion RMB) by 2030. This figure represents a fourfold increase compared to the market size anticipated in 2025, underscoring China’s commitment to advancing its AI infrastructure.
The report, released yesterday, indicates that AI technology is maturing, paving the way for these significant advancements in both agent numbers and the underlying computing power infrastructure required to support them.
