Introduction:

Recently, tech behemoths spearheaded by OpenAI have inked computing power procurement contracts exceeding USD 1 trillion, signaling a bold bet on the future. The global expenditure on AI is projected to exceed USD 2 trillion for the first time in 2026, with the foundational computing power propelling this surge hurtling towards a trillion-dollar market at a pace that far outstrips expectations.

By the close of 2025, the industrial landscape is marked by a blend of apprehension and anticipation: on one hand, tech stocks are experiencing significant volatility following a three-year bull run, sparking debates over whether the "AI investment craze has peaked"; on the other, entities like OpenAI are forging ahead with computing power contracts valued at over USD 1 trillion, placing substantial wagers on the future.

Beneath these seemingly contradictory phenomena lies a unanimous agreement: AI development is transitioning from the "initial phase" of model innovation to the "subsequent phase" of deep industry integration, yielding tangible productivity enhancements.

Computing Power Boom: The Driving Force Behind Explosive Demand and Domestic Substitution Potential

Computing power has emerged as a "strategic resource" of paramount importance, surpassing even oil in criticality. The evolution of AI is propelled not by abstract algorithms but by the real-time processing of vast data volumes (Tokens). According to CITIC Securities' framework, global AI Token consumption is anticipated to skyrocket 100-340 times by 2030 compared to 2025 levels.

This directly translates into a meteoric rise in demand for computing infrastructure: global AI inference computing capacity is expected to surge 65-220 times by 2030, while the AI chip market will expand 5-9 times to surpass USD 1 trillion.

These projections are not without merit. Industry titan NVIDIA predicts the global AI infrastructure market to burgeon from USD 600-700 billion in 2025 to USD 3-4 trillion in the foreseeable future. Gartner data reveals that global spending on "AI-optimized servers" and "AI processing semiconductors" will reach nearly USD 330 billion and USD 270 billion, respectively, in 2026 alone.

Amidst this global demand surge, a profound supply chain realignment is underway. Driven by geopolitical shifts and the imperative for autonomous control, China's domestic substitution of AI chips has emerged as a trend with high certainty.

Currently, China's domestic AI chip substitution rate hovers around 30-40%. Market forecasts suggest this could escalate to 60-70% by 2030. Meanwhile, China's overall AI chip market is projected to grow 7-9 times from USD 35-40 billion in 2025, outpacing global averages.

This presents opportunities not only for chip designers like Huawei Ascend and Cambricon but also for the entire ecosystem, encompassing advanced packaging, high-speed optical modules, liquid cooling, and AI power supplies. For instance, as server power consumption soars, the liquid cooling market is projected to reach RMB 85.8 billion globally by 2027. To ensure uninterrupted computing power, demand for data center backup diesel generators is also on the rise.

AI Penetration: From Technological Concept to Industrial Growth "Catalyst"

AI investment is pivoting from "model building" to "model application." Global asset managers like Fidelity International contend that while the 2026 AI investment boom will dominate markets, the focus will shift from pursuing technological concepts to identifying companies capable of "translating technological advantages into sustainable profits and cash flow."

This heralds explosive growth for downstream applications. AI is no longer confined to internet companies; it will permeate all industries seeking efficiency and experience upgrades, akin to water and electricity. Concrete growth poles have emerged, garnering dual recognition from markets and policies:

Commercial Aerospace and Low-Altitude Economy: China is extending its manufacturing prowess to aerospace. Satellite internet, urban air mobility (e.g., electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft), and other fields represent not just technological frontiers but also trillion-dollar commercialization prospects. These exemplify the deep integration of AI with advanced manufacturing and communication networks.

Innovative Consumption and Smart Devices: Consumer demand is evolving from "quantity" to "quality." Smart homes with integrated AI, new national trend brands, AI PCs, and generative AI smartphones will drive new demand. Gartner predicts the GenAI smartphone market alone will approach USD 400 billion by 2026.

Biopharma and Digital Health: AI is revolutionizing drug discovery and health management. From AI-assisted molecular screening to preventive digital health monitoring (e.g., wearables), this sector combines high technical barriers with immense social value. Chinese firms are rapidly gaining global market share through clinical resources and data advantages.

Frontier Integration: When AI Meets "Future Industries," Shaping the Next Decade

AI's evolution will not unfold in isolation. China's 15th Five-Year Plan underscores the strategic deployment of future industries such as quantum technology, brain-computer interfaces, embodied AI (robotics), and 6G communications. These will undergo profound "synergistic reactions" with AI, collectively defining the next decade's economic growth paradigm.

The fusion of "AI+" and "+AI" will drive disruptive innovation. For instance, quantum computing's massive parallel processing potential could exponentially accelerate training for the most complex AI models; conversely, AI algorithms can optimize and stabilize quantum systems. The recently unveiled "Zuchongzhi No. 3" quantum computing prototype already demonstrates computing power 10¹⁵ times faster than the fastest supercomputers, showcasing this fusion's potential.

Embodied AI serves as a bridge from the digital to the physical world. AI-powered robots in factories are achieving breakthroughs like "learning new skills on-site in minutes" with 100% task completion rates. This represents not just manufacturing upgrades but a holistic advancement in AI perception, decision-making, and control capabilities.

6G communications aim to realize space-air-ground integrated smart connectivity, providing AI with seamless data collection and millisecond-level feedback control—essential infrastructure for real-time AI applications like autonomous driving and remote surgery. China leads globally with approximately 40.3% of 6G patent filings, laying a solid foundation for this fusion race.

Conclusion

The new industrial logic of 2026 revolves around a productivity revolution driven by data and intelligence. Computing power forms the hard foundation for this transformation, while AI serves as the soft core reconstructing all industries.

Citations:

Caishang Convenience Store: The 2026 Core, Super Core—AI Applications: Seizing Three Major Opportunities in the Next Tech Wave

Yicai Global: Positioning for 2026: Five Highly Logical Industry Sectors

Circle Academy: What Are the 2026 Trends in AI Industry Development?

Financial Sector: Global Computing Power Surge: How Much Space Exists for Domestic Substitution?