China leans into using AI − even as the US leads in developing it

The Chinese government has made extensive use of existing AI technologies, including for surveillance. Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

In the competitive arena of global technology, China’s ambitions in artificial intelligence stand out – not just for their scale but for their distinct strategic approach.

In 2017, the Chinese Communist Party declared its intent to surpass the United States to become the world leader in AI by 2030. This plan, however, is less about pioneering novel technologies and more about strategically adapting existing ones to serve state economic, political and social objectives.