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The AI ‘Race’: China vs. the US with Jeffrey Ding and Karen Hao

Aug 31, 2023

Jeffrey Ding, an academic researcher, and Karen Hao, a journalist, discuss the nuances of China's AI development, including advantages, limitations, and risks. They tackle topics such as China's surveillance and data collection edge, the relationship between Chinese companies and the government, concerns in AI development, challenges of coordination, and the complex AI competition between China and the US. They emphasize the importance of understanding China's progress and the potential for collaboration.

45:45

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Karen Hao

Jeffrey Ding

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Quick takeaways

The US maintains an edge in overall AI development compared to China, due to factors like talent limitations, compute limitations, and chip shortages.

China lags behind in large language models (LLMs) and relies on the US for key chips required for AI development, making self-sufficiency challenging.

Deep dives

China's AI Development and the US-China Competition

China's development of AI is a topic of concern, with the US often fearing that China will surpass them. However, experts suggest that overall, the US is still ahead in AI development while China is behind. One area where China excels is in computer vision, thanks to extensive investment by the government and a data advantage from surveillance. But in terms of overall AI development, the US maintains an edge due to factors like talent limitations, compute limitations, and chip shortages. Additionally, the relationship between the Chinese government and the tech companies is complex, with some companies having a close relationship while others face friction. Overall, while there is competition between the US and China, the idea that China will overtake the US in AI is not supported by evidence.

The Talent Factor in the AI 'Race': China vs. the US

04:00

The Importance of Chips in AI and China's Challenges in Chip Manufacturing

03:26

Challenges and Concerns in AI Development

03:32

Introduction

3min

China's Advantage in Surveillance and Data Collection

8min

Pushback and Control: Examining the Relationship Between Chinese Companies and the Government

2min

China's Concerns and Progress in AI Development

30min

Challenges of Coordination and Optimism for Collaboration

2min

The Nuanced Understanding of the AI 'Race' between China and the US

2min

In the debate over slowing down AI, we often hear the same argument against regulation. “What about China? We can’t let China get ahead.” To dig into the nuances of this argument, Tristan and Aza speak with academic researcher Jeffrey Ding and journalist Karen Hao, who take us through what’s really happening in Chinese AI development. They address China’s advantages and limitations, what risks are overblown, and what, in this multi-national competition, is at stake as we imagine the best possible future for everyone.

CORRECTION: Jeffrey Ding says the export controls on advanced chips that were established in October 2022 only apply to military end-users. The controls also impose a license requirement on the export of those advanced chips to any China-based end-user.

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