Is China Emerging as the Global Leader in AI?
China has caught up with the U.S. in AI research output, but leadership in publications and patents does not guarantee leadership in AI-driven business.
Summary
Li, Tong and Xiao trace China's rise from a low-value manufacturing economy to a world leader in AI research. China's share of AI papers grew from about 4% in 1997 to nearly 28% in 2017, overtaking the U.S., and it also leads in patents. The authors suggest this positions China to lead in applications such as speech and image recognition. They caution, however, that there is no guarantee it will pull ahead, and firms should watch how research
Editor's opinion
China has caught up with the U.S. in AI research output, but leadership in publications and patents does not guarantee leadership in AI-driven business.
Key concepts
AI research leadership · National technology catch-up · Commercialisation of AI