China’s AI Strategy: Encircling the Cities From the Countryside — by Di Dongsheng
Deep Dives
Explore related topics with these Wikipedia articles, rewritten for enjoyable reading:
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Made in China 2025
10 min read
China's strategic industrial policy for AI and advanced technology provides essential context for understanding the government's pragmatic approach to AI development that Di Dongsheng describes, and the competitive dynamics with US tech strategy
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Artificial general intelligence
13 min read
The article contrasts America's 'messianic pursuit of superintelligence' with China's pragmatic approach - understanding AGI concepts and debates illuminates why these different strategic bets carry such different risk profiles
Today’s edition opens with an introduction by my former colleague Rebecca Arcesati, Lead Analyst in the Science, Technology and Innovation programme at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS). In particular, her research examines China’s AI and data strategies, EU–China innovation relations and US–China tech competition. Much of her work can be found here. I’m delighted to have her insights included in this issue. — Thomas
There is much to unpack in Di Dongsheng’s essay. The author alternates cautious optimism about the development trajectory of China’s AI industry, which he sees as more resilient compared to that of US AI companies, with some gloomier views of the fate of socioeconomic systems and humanity at large in a world disrupted by AI technologies.
In the United States, a messianic pursuit of superintelligence has come to be the dominant paradigm – a costly and risky bet with unclear returns. The Chinese leadership so far seems to favour a more pragmatic approach that …
This excerpt is provided for preview purposes. Full article content is available on the original publication.