The number of internet users in China has surpassed 1.12 billion as of June, coinciding with the flourishing of artificial intelligence technology, according to a report released on Monday.

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The report by the China Internet Network Information Center revealed that among these netizens, 161 million are aged 60 and above, while 322 million are rural internet users, both showing a consistent growth.

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The report also highlighted the rapid growth of generative AI products in the first half of this year, with expanding application scenarios. By March, 346 generative AI services had been registered with the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country's top internet regulator, drawing global attention to Chinese AI products.

One such example is DeepSeek, which within less than 20 days of its launch attracted over 30 million daily active users globally, dominating application markets in 140 countries and regions as the fastest-growing generative AI application worldwide.

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By June, the report noted that 80.9 percent of users were utilizing generative AI products to answer questions. Additionally, in 2024, China's AI industry exceeded a scale of 700 billion yuan, maintaining a growth rate of over 20 percent for several consecutive years.