April 23, 2018

China’s AI talent ‘arms race’

Perhaps, the real ‘arms race’ in artificial intelligence (AI) is not military competition but the battle for talent. Since the vast majority of the world’s top AI experts remain in the US, China is starting out from a position of clear disadvantage in this fight. The New Generation AI Development Plan, released in July 2017, acknowledged, ‘cutting-edge talent for AI is far from meeting demand’. This initial program called for China to ‘accelerate the training and gathering of high-end AI talent’, recognised as an objective ‘of the utmost importance’. Indeed, Chinese leaders are determined to catch up through leveraging a range of talent plans and new educational initiatives.

China’s AI talent insurgency is already underway. In accordance with this plan, China is creating new technical training programs, engaging in aggressive recruitment and constructing AI as an academic discipline.


Read the full article at ASPI

  • Podcast
    • December 20, 2024
    How Can the Trump Administration Strengthen U.S. AI Leadership?

    With a new administration just around the corner, now is the time for the US to strengthen its position as a global leader in AI. Even with changing leadership, there remain n...

    By Paul Scharre

  • Commentary
    • Foreign Policy
    • December 19, 2024
    How China’s Antitrust Tactics Undermine U.S. Tech Leadership

    If the United States fails to address this threat, it risks not just losing ground in the technology race, but ceding control over the rules that govern it....

    By Ruby Scanlon

  • Commentary
    • December 12, 2024
    Sharper: Tariffs

    The incoming Trump administration has signaled that tariffs will be a central pillar of its economic strategy, with significant implications for international trade, the Ameri...

    By Eleanor Hume, Charles Horn & Gwendolyn Nowaczyk

  • Reports
    • December 11, 2024
    Technology to Secure the AI Chip Supply Chain: A Working Paper

    Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems, built and deployed with specialized chips, show vast potential to drive economic growth and scientific progress....

    By Tim Fist, Tao Burga & Vivek Chilukuri

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia