"China’s 2025 World Internet Conference reveals the nation’s dominance in AI and 6G patent filings, with JD.com and Alibaba unveiling bold automation and AI-cloud plans."
China has once again positioned itself at the forefront of global technology leadership. The latest “blue book” reports released at the 2025 World Internet Conference (WIC) in Wuzhen highlight China’s overwhelming lead in AI and 6G patent filings. The event also showcased the country’s advancements in digital infrastructure and e-commerce, with major players like JD.com and Alibaba outlining futuristic automation and AI cloud strategies.
How China Dominates AI and 6G Innovation
The China Internet Development Report 2025 reveals that China holds about 60% of global AI patents—a figure that cements its position as the world’s leader in artificial intelligence innovation. The report attributes this growth to consistent research and filings across AI algorithms, applications, and systems.
In the 6G race, China reportedly accounts for 40.3% of global patent applications, ranking No.1 worldwide. These filings are accelerating as the country invests heavily in pre-6G R&D—well before commercial rollout expected after 2030.
Highlights from WIC 2025
The WIC Wuzhen Summit 2025, which opened on November 7, celebrated advancements in AI models, robotics, IoT, and quantum computing. Awards went to platforms such as GitHub Copilot and Alibaba’s Qwen model, reflecting the conference’s growing international influence in next-generation technology.
Two key publications—the China Internet Development Report 2025 and the World Internet Development Report 2025—were unveiled to benchmark global digital progress and governance trends.
China’s Expanding Digital Infrastructure
According to the reports, China is nearing 4.5 million 5G base stations with over 1 billion active 5G subscriptions. This massive network serves as the backbone for industrial internet applications, smart cities, and edge-AI solutions.
| Infrastructure Metric | 2025 Estimate | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 5G Base Stations | 4.5 million+ | 1st |
| 5G Subscriptions | 1 billion+ | 1st |
| Total Computing Power | 2nd globally | 2nd |
Experts note that China now ranks second globally in total computing power, with demand for model training and inference growing rapidly across sectors.
Inside China’s E-commerce Boom
By the end of 2024, China had 974 million online shoppers, representing 87.9% of all internet users. Online retail sales hit 15.52 trillion yuan, marking a 7.2% year-over-year rise and reinforcing China’s dominance as the world’s largest e-commerce market.
Analysts forecast sustained growth in this sector, driven by increased logistics automation, digital payments, and social commerce integration across urban and rural demographics.
JD.com and Alibaba Reveal Futuristic AI Visions
JD.com’s Unmanned Delivery Hub
JD.com founder Liu Qiangdong announced at the summit that the company will launch the world’s first fully unmanned delivery hub by April 2026. The system will use rooftop drones, autonomous ground vehicles, and robotic arms for end-to-end logistics automation.
He also revealed that JD’s new Beijing sorting center is already 90% automated, and the company plans to automate the remaining last 50 meters of delivery using community-level robotics partnerships.
Alibaba’s ‘Super AI Cloud’ Ambition
Meanwhile, Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu unveiled the company’s vision for a ‘super AI cloud’—a global platform designed to support intelligent emergence, AGI, and even ASI ambitions. The initiative will make Alibaba Cloud a key player in hosting and deploying large-scale AI models worldwide.
Its Qwen model family now competes among leading foundation models, aiming to empower enterprises with next-gen AI infrastructure.
Why These Reports Matter
The concentration of AI and 6G intellectual property strengthens China’s influence in global standards and commercialization. Combined with its vast digital infrastructure and thriving e-commerce ecosystem, China’s integrated AI-driven economy forms a self-reinforcing innovation flywheel.
These advances are not just about speed and scale—they’re reshaping how AI integrates with communication systems, automation, and consumer life.
FAQs
1. What is the World Internet Conference (WIC)?
The WIC is an annual event hosted in Wuzhen, China, showcasing major advancements in internet technology, digital governance, and AI innovation.
2. Why is China leading in AI patents?
China has made massive national investments in AI research, with collaboration between academia, government, and tech giants driving patent filings across multiple AI subfields.
3. What are Alibaba and JD.com’s AI plans?
Alibaba is building a ‘super AI cloud’ to power large-scale AI development, while JD.com is focusing on full automation in logistics through robotics and drones.
