Kling AI Dominates Video Generation Market: Hits 60 Million Users

While the world waits for the wide release of OpenAI’s Sora, a Chinese competitor has already captured the market. On Monday, Kuaishou Technology announced that its AI video generation tool, Kling AI, has surpassed 60 million users worldwide, cementing its status as the first breakout hit in the generative video race.

The milestone, which sent Kuaishou’s stock surging, underscores a dramatic shift in the AI landscape: while US tech giants have been cautious with public releases, Chinese firms are shipping products that are aggressive, accessible, and increasingly sophisticated.

The "Available" Advantage
Kling AI's primary advantage over OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo is simple: you can actually use it.

Mass Adoption: Since its global launch in July 2024, Kling has generated over 600 million videos. While Sora remains largely restricted to a select group of "red teamers" and Hollywood partners, Kling has been open to the public, allowing it to iterate rapidly based on real-world user data.

Global Footprint: The tool isn't just a domestic phenomenon. Reports indicate Kling is currently the #1 graphics and design app in Russia and South Korea, and ranks in the top 10 in the US, UK, and Japan.

A Financial Powerhouse
Unlike many AI experiments that burn cash without return, Kling is already monetizing effectively.

Revenue Engine: Kuaishou projects the tool will generate $140 million in annual revenue for 2025.

Subscription Model: Approximately 70% of this revenue comes from individual user subscriptions (ranging from $7 to over $100 per month), proving that creators are willing to pay for high-quality video generation tools now, rather than waiting for "perfect" tools from Silicon Valley.

Technical Prowess
Kling is often described by users as "uncomfortably close" to Sora in quality.

The "Motion" Breakthrough: The system uses a 3D Variational Autoencoder (VAE) framework, which allows it to model complex physical movements—like a person walking or a car turning—with realistic consistency, avoiding the "warping" common in early AI video.

Feature Set: Beyond simple text-to-video, Kling offers "image-to-video" (animating static photos) and granular camera controls that appeal to professional filmmakers.

"The gap between US and Chinese AI models is not just closing; in terms of consumer application, it has inverted," said an AI market analyst. "Kuaishou shipped while OpenAI hesitated."