Core Insights - The AI application market is experiencing significant growth, with mobile and PC active user counts reaching 729 million and 200 million respectively by September 2025, driven by a shift towards ecosystem collaboration and model optimization [1][6][14]. Market Overview - As of September 2025, the mobile AI application market includes 287 million users for native apps, 706 million for In-App AI, and 535 million for smartphone manufacturer AI assistants, with respective growth rates of 3.4%, 9.3%, and 1.2% [1][14]. - The overall scale of mobile AI applications has surpassed 700 million, indicating a maturation and commercialization of the industry [6][14]. User Engagement - In-App AI applications dominate the user engagement landscape, with 31 out of the top 50 AI applications being plugins, led by Baidu AI Search, Douyin AI Search, and WeChat AI Search [2][31]. - The average number of In-App AI applications per app in the top 20 has increased to 2.5, while PC web applications and smartphone AI assistants lag behind [2][31]. Competitive Landscape - The competition has shifted from a focus on parameter comparisons to ecosystem collaboration, with major players like Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, and Douyin updating their models frequently [1][6][14]. - The user engagement time for native AI applications remains the highest at 117.7 minutes, compared to 31 minutes for AI plugins and 5.3 minutes for smartphone AI assistants [2][16]. Trends in AI Applications - The industry is moving towards a "value-driven" model, with pricing strategies becoming more refined and user stickiness increasing, particularly for In-App AI plugins [2][12][18]. - The average single-use token consumption has decreased, indicating improved efficiency and cost control in AI applications [18][20]. Ecosystem Development - The MCP (Model Cloud Platform) services have reached 9,384 by October 20, 2025, facilitating a shift from model development to a service-oriented ecosystem [1][20]. - The integration of AI assistants into smartphones has become standard, with a collective growth of 65 million users across six major manufacturers, reflecting a 13.9% year-on-year increase [40][61]. PC Application Dynamics - The PC application market is undergoing contraction, with over 75% of web applications facing growth challenges, while the client applications are also struggling with 75% showing negative growth [50][57]. - Successful PC applications are primarily in productivity sectors, with notable growth in applications like Xiaoyi and WPS Lingxi, indicating a need for professional value to sustain growth [54][57]. Strategic Focus - Internet companies are focusing on integrating AI with business scenarios to enhance their core offerings, while smartphone manufacturers are building open ecosystems around AI assistants [61][70]. - The evolution of AI applications is characterized by a shift from single-point technology competition to an ecosystem-based collaboration model, with payment capabilities marking a significant milestone in commercialization [74][78].

Core Insights - The AI application market is experiencing rapid growth, with mobile and PC active user counts reaching 729 million and 200 million respectively by September 2025 [3][4][20] - Major companies are shifting focus from parameter competition to ecosystem collaboration, optimizing models to meet customer needs and expand application scenarios [4][9] - The In-App AI plugin model has become the leading growth driver, with 31 out of the top 50 AI applications being plugins [4][5][24] Market Overview - By September 2025, the mobile AI application market has surpassed 700 million users, with native apps, In-App AI, and mobile manufacturer AI assistants reaching 287 million, 706 million, and 535 million users respectively [20][9] - The growth of mobile applications is supported by a stable head of native apps, while the PC web applications face challenges, with over 75% experiencing growth difficulties [5][60] User Engagement - The average usage time for native AI applications is 117.7 minutes, significantly higher than In-App AI plugins at 31 minutes and mobile manufacturer AI assistants at 5.3 minutes [6][24] - The top AI applications show a stable user base, with notable growth in vertical applications like AQ and Doubao, which have seen substantial increases in active users [6][38] Competitive Landscape - The competitive landscape is solidifying, with nearly 60% of native apps experiencing negative growth, indicating a narrowing window for new entrants [31][34] - Vertical applications are thriving, with AQ, Doubao, and Jimeng AI showing impressive growth rates of 83.4%, 15.7%, and 12.1% respectively [38][40] Ecosystem Development - The MCP services have reached 9,384, facilitating ecosystem collaboration and marking a new phase of commercialization in the AI industry [4][9][80] - Companies are focusing on integrating AI into business scenarios, enhancing user experience through seamless service delivery [70][72] Future Trends - The AI market is transitioning from a focus on broad capabilities to specialized, efficient solutions, with a significant increase in model updates and iterations [16][18] - The integration of payment capabilities is seen as a key milestone for the commercialization of AI applications, paving the way for an "AI as a service" economy [85][87]