China and the United States are engaged in a heated race to lead in artificial intelligence (AI) research. China has been pouring billions into AI research and development in its goal to become a global leader in AI by 2030. America is also stepping up funding while seeking to limit China’s gains by restricting exports of sensitive technologies, in particular semiconductor chips. China seemed to be pulling ahead in AI research by some measures. However, the emergence of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies from companies in the West has significantly altered the AI research landscape, challenging China’s perceived lead as it struggles to catch up.
