虎嗅APP·2025-10-29 09:48Core Insights - The article emphasizes that the AI application market in China has reached a pivotal moment, transitioning from hype around models to a focus on user value and active user scale [3][4] - It highlights two successful paths in AI applications: ecosystem integration by giants and deep specialization in vertical tools [4][5] Market Overview - In September 2025, the overseas AI application monthly active users (MAU) reached 1.448 billion, with a quarterly growth rate of 19.16%, indicating a shift to a mature phase focused on value extraction [8][9] - In China, the AI application MAU reached 467 million with a quarterly growth rate of 7.17%, driven by new application innovators taking over from early technology adopters [10] Competitive Landscape - The AI chatbot sector leads with 290 million MAU, showing an annual growth rate of 116.83%, while AI education and video creation also exhibit strong growth potential [14] - The market shows significant differentiation, with strong growth in AI education and efficiency tools, while some applications like AI virtual characters face declines [16][19] AI Search Engine Dynamics - The mobile app segment has become the core growth engine for AI search, with overseas MAU increasing from 48.44 million to 73.90 million, a cumulative growth rate of 52.60% [42] - The Chinese web market for AI search has seen a drastic decline, with MAU dropping from 20.11 million to 7.87 million, a cumulative decrease of 60.33% [44][45] AI Virtual Characters - The global AI virtual character market is experiencing a split, with traditional app models declining while web models show explosive growth in China [76][79] - The overseas market faces stagnation due to product homogeneity and declining user engagement, while the Chinese market is innovating with web-based solutions [77][78] AI Education Sector - The global AI education market is witnessing explosive growth, particularly in China, where the app segment has a total growth rate of 65.60% [89] - The overseas market is rebounding, especially in the web segment, which saw a 67.51% increase, indicating a return to value-driven trends [90] GPTs and Vertical Applications - The growth of education-related GPTs is robust, with a total increase of 171.34%, indicating a symbiotic relationship with vertical applications [92] - GPTs serve as a primary entry point for AI education, driving new user acquisition while vertical applications cater to specialized needs [92]