Opinion: China-U.S. AI Rivalry Doesn’t Have to Be a Zero-Sum Game

It is natural to think of the China-U.S. AI rivalry as a zero-sum game. In some ways this is certainly the case, but there are also many powerful incentives for the two countries to cooperate and work together where possible. Photo: VCG

The rivalry that has been simmering between China and the United States, the world’s two leaders in developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology, is now nearing the boiling point as the two countries’ lines of battle become drawn ever more clearly in policy documents, white papers and intelligence bulletins.

The U.S. has advantages such as leading hardware, research, and talent, whereas China has unparalleled masses of AI-ready data at its disposal to drive technological development, a strong will to succeed in its quest for primacy, and a head start in its already widespread deployment and adoption of many digital technologies.