Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-12-28 11:11Core Insights - The global AI industry is undergoing a significant transformation, particularly in the Model as a Service (MaaS) sector, with a notable shift in the competitive landscape between China and the U.S. [1] - Chinese companies like Alibaba Cloud and Volcano Engine are rapidly closing the gap with U.S. giants such as OpenAI and Google Cloud in the MaaS market [1][2] Market Dynamics - As of October 2025, the daily average token usage for major MaaS providers is as follows: OpenAI at approximately 70 trillion, Google Cloud at 43 trillion, and Volcano Engine at over 30 trillion [3] - By the end of December 2025, Volcano Engine's daily token usage surged to 50 trillion, surpassing Google Cloud's previous levels [2][3] - The MaaS market is projected to grow tenfold in the coming year, driven by explosive growth in the Chinese market [2] User Segmentation - The user base for MaaS services is predominantly composed of individual users (80%), but enterprise users account for 80% of the token consumption [3] - The early growth of MaaS services was primarily in the consumer sector, but the enterprise market is rapidly emerging [2] Competitive Landscape - Chinese companies are achieving significant advancements in specific AI applications, such as video generation, where they are competitive with global counterparts [4][5] - The gap in foundational large language models remains, with U.S. companies like OpenAI having a head start [5] Strategic Approaches - Chinese firms are shifting focus from pure parameter competition to creating user-friendly, efficient, and commercially viable service ecosystems [5][6] - The MaaS market in China is characterized by a collaborative approach among local firms, aiming to expand the overall market rather than compete against each other [6] Differentiated Development Paths - The U.S. model emphasizes computational power and general large models, while the Chinese approach focuses on application, deployment, and industry penetration [6] - The market concentration in large models is expected to narrow down to a few key players, while smaller models tailored for specific industries are anticipated to see significant growth [6] Business Model Evolution - The MaaS pricing model is evolving from a token-based system to a more value-driven "Agent as a Service" model, allowing clients to purchase specific AI solutions [6] - This shift is expected to expand the MaaS market into the broader Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, which is valued in the trillions [6] Challenges Ahead - The foundational large model sector still presents challenges due to existing technological barriers established by early movers like OpenAI [7] - Addressing concerns regarding the neutrality of Chinese MaaS platforms, especially those linked to large internet companies, remains a critical issue for the industry [7]