The Journal. China and the U.S. Are in a Race for AI Supremacy
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Dec 2, 2025 
WSJ reporter Josh Chin dives into the escalating AI race between China and the U.S., drawing chilling parallels to the Cold War. He explains China's ambitious 2017 plan to dominate AI by 2030 and how the rapid rise of ChatGPT has reshaped the competition. Chin highlights China's struggle with advanced chips, the innovative DeepSeek model, and Huawei's unique strategies to catch up. The discussion also touches on the alarming safety sacrifices made in the race to innovate. This is a crucial talk on the future of global tech rivalry.
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AI Rivalry Mirrors Cold War Stakes
- The U.S. and China are now in an AI rivalry akin to the Cold War over transformative technologies.
- Whoever secures a sustained lead stands to gain huge economic, military and geopolitical power.
ChatGPT As China’s Sputnik Moment
- ChatGPT's November 2022 debut jolted China the same way Sputnik jolted the U.S. during the space race.
- Chinese officials began pressuring tech firms and summoned companies to accelerate AI development.
China’s Whole-of-State AI Push
- Beijing uses state coordination: promoting AI in schools, subsidizing infrastructure, and mobilizing local governments.
- That centralized push can create scale quickly but also waste through local competition for favors.