British media has highlighted the growing competition between China and the United States in the field of artificial intelligence, with both nations vying for technological supremacy. The interactions between China and the UK in science, industry, and finance are also being closely watched.
China: Overtaking in a Corner?
According to a BBC report published on January 26th titled “Artificial Intelligence: English, Chinese, and American Performed 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms'â€, data reveals that from 2012 to the present, there have been 1,354 AI companies in China, with a total investment of 144.8 billion yuan. In 2017 alone, AI investment exceeded 62.2 billion yuan, a hundredfold increase from the 600 million yuan recorded in 2012.
Chinese media has celebrated AI as an opportunity for China to "overtake the curve" or even "override the car," helping the country avoid the so-called "middle-income trap." The Chinese government sees AI as a key driver for industrial upgrading and economic transformation, with policies designed to encourage and support its development. Since the second half of 2017, the growth of China's AI industry has accelerated rapidly.
In July of last year, the Chinese State Council released the "New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan," setting clear goals: by 2020, China’s AI technology and applications will be on par with global leaders. By 2025, major breakthroughs in fundamental AI research are expected, and by 2030, China aims to become a global AI innovation center. A week ago, China also issued a White Paper on AI Standardization, reinforcing its commitment to the sector.
Another set of figures highlights China's rising influence in AI technology: wages in AI-related industries have surged, doubling over the past three years. According to statistics from 100offer.com, the starting salary for college graduates in the AI sector is between 300,000 and 600,000 yuan annually, while team leaders with 3–5 years of experience can earn up to 1.5 million yuan per year.
United States: No Longer Monopolizing
Despite China’s rapid progress, the U.S. still holds a strong position in AI, especially in hardware and foundational technologies. The U.S. chip industry is dominated by large firms like Intel and NVIDIA, whereas China’s chip sector is largely composed of startups. In terms of basic AI frameworks, companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon remain ahead of their Chinese counterparts, including Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba.
However, when it comes to specific AI applications—such as machine learning, speech recognition, natural language processing, and computer vision—Chinese companies have outpaced their American peers in funding. Last year, AI applications saw explosive growth in sectors like security, finance, healthcare, education, retail, robotics, and autonomous driving.
A joint report by the Eurasian Group and SinovaTIon, published in December, highlighted the ongoing AI rivalry between China and the U.S., noting that this competition has become a central issue in Sino-U.S. trade tensions. While the U.S. leads in advanced hardware and talent, China benefits from a massive user base, providing vast amounts of data that fuel AI innovation.
The report suggests that the AI race is not a zero-sum game but rather one of gradual convergence, with different levels of integration and hybridization occurring across the board. AI is shaping the future, and its trajectory remains uncertain.
UK: Need for Collaboration with China
The report also noted that the UK was among the first countries to prepare for the integration of AI into public administration. The British government plans to establish a new advisory body, the Data Ethics and Innovation Center, to foster international collaboration and is preparing to join the AI Council at Davos. Prime Minister Theresa May declared at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the UK is a global leader in AI.
But is the UK truly ready to lead in AI? With the U.S. and China investing billions in the sector, the UK faces stiff competition. However, the UK still has a strong academic base, with top AI researchers located in cities like London and Cambridge. Notably, Google’s Alexa and DeepMind’s AlphaGo were developed in the UK.
Yet, many of these experts work for global tech giants, and the UK government lacks substantial R&D investment and effective protection for AI assets. One concern is that while China moves swiftly forward, the UK is still grappling with ethical challenges and regulatory issues related to AI.
Soon after, Prime Minister May will lead a trade delegation to China for a historic visit to Beijing and Shanghai. Whether this trip will lead to meaningful AI collaboration remains to be seen. For the UK, China’s role as a key trading partner is vital in its post-Brexit strategy.
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