# Bài viết Liên quan Global Market

How Do Chinese AI Models Use Tokens to 'Export' Electricity?

The article explores how Chinese AI models are effectively "exporting" electricity globally through token consumption. In 2026, data from OpenRouter shows that Chinese models account for 61% of the top ten models' token usage, with MiniMax M2.5, Kimi K2.5, and Zhipu GLM-5 leading. This shift is driven by the rise of tools like OpenClaw, which exponentially increases token usage, and the significantly lower cost of Chinese models compared to Western alternatives (e.g., MiniMax at $0.3 per million input tokens vs. Claude Opus at $5). The core idea is that token consumption represents the export of computational power and electricity. When a developer overseas sends an API request, it is processed in Chinese data centers using China’s cheaper electricity (about 40% lower than the U.S.), without the power physically leaving the country. This creates a form of invisible, tariff-free "export" of energy. The trend mirrors Bitcoin mining, where China once dominated by converting cheap electricity into digital value, but AI tokens offer more utility and deeper integration into global workflows. However, challenges like data sovereignty and chip restrictions remain. Ultimately, the token economy is becoming a new frontier in U.S.-China tech competition, with Chinese models gaining influence by embedding into developers' systems worldwide.

比推02/26 13:05