- China is witnessing a surge in AI tokens, opening up the “token economy,” according to experts at the China Internet Conference in Beijing.
- Academician Yin Hao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences noted that the digital economy has shifted from a data economy and computing economy to a token economy.
- Tokens are the basic units that help AI models process, generate content, and support chatbots, images, and cinema-quality videos.
- He argued that tokens are no longer just technical metrics but have become a production factor connecting AI capability, computing resources, and commercial value.
- According to the National Bureau of Statistics, daily AI token consumption increased over 1,000 times, from about 100 billion at the start of 2024 to 100 trillion by year-end.
- By March, usage exceeded 140 trillion tokens per day, equivalent to about 100,000 tokens for each person in a population of 1.4 billion.
- China Unicom views token operation as a driver of efficiency, with AI raising productivity in document drafting and contract retrieval by 70%.
- AI processes over 85% of calls to the 10010 hotline, helping China Unicom save over 100 million yuan per year (approx. $14 million).
- Huawei perceives the token economy as the most certain opportunity amidst uncertainties as China promotes AI across various economic sectors.
📌 Tokens are becoming the new foundation of AI services and business models in China. In just over two years, consumption has risen from 100 billion to over 140 trillion tokens per day, while businesses report clear efficiency gains like a 70% productivity boost and over 85% call automation. This shows that the token economy is shifting from a technical concept to a growth driver of the digital economy.
