Our Expert Voices conversation on artificial intelligence.
The genius that finally creates general artificial intelligence will be sparked by four things. China has the advantage or parity in all four.
- Research & talent. China is producing more AI papers than any other country. While their impact trails both the U.S. and U.K., that gap may close.
- Data and platforms: China has several world-leading consumer internet platforms, such as WeChat, used by about a billion people. This creates a world-class set of data unburdened by even lax American views of privacy, let alone Europe's more stringent take.
- Regulation: As we approach more powerful AI systems, governments will try to regulate things like privacy and bias. Chinese researchers may face a less meticulous environment: It was a more laissez-faire approach to regulation that helped China to bring the first commercial gene therapy product to market in 2003.
- Culture: More than two-thirds of Chinese believe AI will have a positive impact on society and on themselves. Less than half of Americans do.
Bottom line: If a single country is going to come out ahead in the artificial intelligence race, it is likely to be China.
Other voices in the conversation:
- Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway: Teach kids how to use AI as a positive tool
- Andrew Moore, computer scientist, Carnegie Mellon University: The U.S. needs more AI researchers
- Ian Bremmer, political scientist, Eurasia Group: The U.S. will win the AI race, but at a cost