Your Undivided Attention America and China Are Racing to Different AI Futures
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Dec 18, 2025 
Join experts Selina Xu and Matt Sheehan as they delve into the complex landscape of AI in China. Selina, a technology analyst known for her insights on AI policy, and Matt, a senior fellow at Carnegie focusing on global tech, dissect the myths surrounding China’s AI ambitions. They explore the stark differences between China's application-focused AI strategy and the U.S. pursuit of AGI. From Shanghai's vibrant AI scene to the implications of U.S. export controls, their conversation sparks a new understanding of global AI dynamics and the potential for cooperation.
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China's AI Is Driven By Many Actors
- China's AI ecosystem is decentralized with many actors shaping policy and tech rather than Xi personally dictating details.
- Local companies, academics, and bureaucrats often originate ideas that then flow into national regulations.
Reverse-Engineer Regulations To See Origins
- Trace Chinese regulations back to company and academic origins to understand policy drivers.
- Reverse-engineer regulation language to find the scholars or firms that influenced it.
China Prioritizes Applied AI Over AGI
- China's official AI strategy focuses on practical applications like manufacturing, healthcare, and governance rather than explicit pursuit of AGI.
- Policymakers and companies prioritize productivity gains and integration over an AGI-driven worldview.