AI RACE OF THE SUPERPOWERS – UNITED STATES versus CHINA
INTRODUCTION
Here we discuss the race between these two superpowers to dominate this technology. The stakes are very high, and the race is in full flood.
DISCUSSION
When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), the United States and China are locked in a race to be the world’s dominant superpower. The two countries are investing billions of dollars in AI research and development, and both have set ambitious goals for the future of AI. The United States has been a leader in AI research since the field’s inception in the 1950s. American companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft are at the forefront of AI development. The US government has invested heavily in AI through initiatives like the DARPA Grand Challenge and the Google Brain project.
China, on the other hand, has been rapidly catching up to the US in AI. Chinese companies like Baidu and Tencent are investing heavily in AI, and the Chinese government has prioritized AI with its “Made in China 2025” initiative. The race to dominate AI is being driven by several factors. The first is the military applications of AI. The US military is investing heavily in AI research, intending to use AI to enhance its battlefield capabilities. China, meanwhile, is also interested in using AI for military purposes and is believed to be developing AI-enabled weapons. The second factor is the economic benefits of AI.
The US and China are both seeking to gain a competitive edge in the global economy by harnessing the power of AI. American companies use AI to automate manufacturing processes and create new products and services. Chinese companies are using AI to improve their logistics and supply chain management.
The third factor is the societal impact of AI. The US and China are both concerned about the potential impact of AI on society and the economy. American companies are investing in AI to improve customer service and create new jobs. Chinese companies are investing in AI to improve their urban planning and transportation. The race to dominate AI is driven by a desire to gain a military, economic, and societal advantage. The US and China are investing heavily in AI research and development, and both have set ambitious goals for the future of AI.
There are a few factors to consider when predicting who will win the race to dominate AI. The USA has more experience with AI, as the technology was initially developed there. However, China has more people, meaning they have more data to train their AI models. In addition, the Chinese government is investing heavily in AI, and they plan to make China the world leader in AI by 2030. China also uses AI to track and country-wide surveillance of all its citizens, but will they win? This is still far away, and much can change within this time frame. What if other countries join the race, such as the United Kingdom?
The increasing number of AI research papers and patents by Chinese researchers is often cited as proof that China has caught up with the United States in this field. The increased focus is good for the Chinese AI ecosystem and will help them solve China-specific problems. But dominance in this emerging strategic industry is not guaranteed.
The U.S. has several strategic advantages, including the strengths of its higher education and research institutes, government investment which attracts the best STEM talent from across the world; the largest venture capital ecosystem, and the largest number of technology unicorns (start-ups with private valuations greater than $1 billion)
China is not overtaking the U.S. in artificial intelligence. The current evidence and trajectory paint an obvious picture: The conditions for AI to flourish, such as incentives to experiment, freedom to pursue opportunities without restrictions, and the coming guardrails to prevent misuse, favor U.S. leadership. China can implement the opposite. This is still the United States’ game to lose — though maybe both countries could win through collaboration. We will need AI solutions from all countries and competitors to solve planet-scale problems such as climate change.
SUMMARY
We are undecided on the outcome of this race, and we will track develops and changes and report them back to you, our readers. We do not subscribe to the view that collaboration with China is a going concern. China would prefer to go its own path.
It is an exciting time and can benefit the global community with rapid advances in AI systems for all to use.