China Launches First Space-Based Large AI Model, Surpassing Global Rivals in Satellite Intelligence

AsianFin -- China has achieved a world-first by successfully deploying and operating a large-scale artificial intelligence model in space for more than 140 days, marking a significant milestone in the integration of generative AI with aerospace technology.

The breakthrough was announced by the Institute of Computing Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which developed the Aurora Space-based Large Model, known as JigonGPT, in collaboration with the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence and Wuhan University.

This 230-million-parameter model was integrated into a satellite-borne intelligent computing payload and launched in February aboard the "Dongfang Huiyan Gaofen-01" satellite. Since then, it has remained fully functional in orbit, setting a global record for the sustained operation of an AI model in space.

Prior to this development, no other country had reported placing such a large AI model in orbit for over 100 days. The achievement places China ahead of the United States, Europe, and other spacefaring nations, underscoring its growing capabilities in both artificial intelligence and space technology.

The Institute of Computing Technology, founded in 1956, has long served as a national hub for high-performance computing. It developed China's first general-purpose digital computer and the country's first general-purpose CPU chip, and has played a foundational role in the emergence of companies like Loongson, Cambricon, and Sugon.

JigonGPT's deployment reflects layered technological innovation. The team first built a benchmark model with 1.02 billion parameters based on BAAI's Aquila large language model. By applying hierarchical quantization, visual encoding, and multimodal distillation, they optimized the system into a compact 230-million-parameter model suitable for the constrained computing environment aboard a satellite. Despite its reduced size, the model retains the ability to perform image analysis, natural language understanding, and command generation.

The satellite itself is part of the "Dongfang Huiyan" Intelligent Remote Sensing Constellation, a project led by Wuhan University academician Li Deren and chief designer Professor Wang Mi. The satellite was launched by a Jielong-3 Yao-3 rocket from Guangdong's coastal Yangjiang site on February 3, 2024. Developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, it carried the AI-powered payload that now enables autonomous onboard processing with up to 100 TOPS of computing power.

In a further leap, the team created a satellite-based digital human named "Dongfang Xiaoji," which uses JigonGPT to engage directly with social media platforms. This multimodal agent integrates onboard sensing, semantic understanding, and content generation, allowing it to interact with users on the ground in real time. Xiaoji has already launched accounts and begun posting regularly, making it the first digital human operated directly from orbit.

The launch coincides with China's accelerating investments in its commercial aerospace sector. Since the introduction of supportive policies in 2015, the country has seen rapid industry growth. As of April 2025, there are 75,000 aerospace-related enterprises in China, with 5,888 new companies registered this year alone—a 46.7% increase from the same period in 2024. Shanghai has become a core manufacturing hub, producing up to 50 commercial rockets and 600 satellites annually.

Last year, China executed a record 68 carrier rocket launches, returned the first samples from the far side of the moon with its Chang'e-6 mission, and put its Hainan Commercial Launch Site into operation. The pace of development highlights the country's ambition to match and surpass established space powers.

The United States remains a leader in space exploration through NASA, SpaceX, and the creation of the U.S. Space Force and Space Development Agency. However, China's momentum has drawn increasing attention from global research institutions. The University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation has warned that space is becoming a primary battleground in the escalating technological rivalry between the U.S. and China, with both nations focused on securing leadership in space innovation as a pillar of national security.

The Institute of Computing Technology emphasized that space-based large models, when paired with onboard intelligent computers and digital agents, will allow satellites to evolve from passive instruments into autonomous platforms capable of sensing, analysis, decision-making, and real-time command execution. These technologies will form the core of next-generation systems for remote sensing data processing, intelligent control, and space-based services.

As the space race moves into the AI era, China's JigonGPT project not only advances the frontier of aerospace AI but also signals the country's determination to lead in the strategic technologies that will shape the future of orbital operations.