Global AI Competition Intensifies as China Climbs up, Threatening America's Dominance in the Field, According to Recent Research
The Center for Data Innovation has released a report, suggesting policy recommendations for policymakers to respond to China's growing challenge in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The report highlights that the European Union (EU) is currently falling behind the United States and China in the development and use of AI.
The report assesses AI capabilities using 30 metrics across six categories: talent, research, commercial development activity, hardware infrastructure, adoption, and data availability. The findings reveal that China has closed the gap or extended its lead over the United States in more than half of the updated metrics. Since 2019, China has surpassed the EU as the global leader in AI research publications.
On a 100-point scale, the European Union scores 23.3 points, the United States scores 44.6 points, and China scores 32.0 points. The report finds that the quantity and quality of AI research being conducted, software and computer services firms' expenditures on research and development, the number of advanced supercomputers, and the quantity of data being generated are areas where China is showing progress.
Notably, China now has nearly twice as many supercomputers ranked in the top 500 for performance as the United States. In the number of AI-related venture funding deals, AI firm acquisitions, and AI start-ups that have raised at least $1 million, China is far ahead, with the EU falling significantly behind.
The report also notes that China has increased its AI research quality compared to the EU. Daniel Castro, director of the Center for Data Innovation and lead author of the report, states that the biggest challenge for the EU and member states is their lack of trust in AI. The report highlights that many in Europe do not trust AI, seeing it as technology to be feared and constrained, rather than welcomed and promoted.
The Center argues that the EU and its member states must welcome and promote AI rather than constrain it through existing and proposed regulatory policies. Countries like Estonia, Portugal, and the Netherlands have the potential to liberalize EU AI policy significantly, promoting innovation through deregulation, simplified tax systems, digital administration, and flexible visa regimes to attract talent and startups.
In conclusion, the report suggests that the EU and United States should respond to China's progress in AI development to maintain their global competitiveness. The report was released today by the Center for Data Innovation.
