China’s rise in technology is no accident, but the result of careful planning and investment. The country’s strength in artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation is built on its huge output of PhD graduates in science and technology, as well as its rapid progress in patents.
In fact, China now files more patents than the US, and its AI technology is gaining global attention. An example is DeepSeek, a Chinese AI competitor to ChatGPT, which was developed with relatively low investment, showing China’s growing technological capabilities.
China has also cornered the market in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, making them much cheaper than a decade ago, and its EV industry is now the largest in the world.
Beyond that, Chinese companies are leading the way in creating smart, AI-driven vehicles, as well as revolutionizing manufacturing with AI-powered robots.
This technological revolution extends into clean tech and consumer electronics, areas where China now leads, filing the majority of clean tech patents. As the US National Science Board noted, China’s goal to be the world’s top science and engineering nation is nearly realized, with China outpacing the US in AI research, patents, and student numbers.
Despite concerns about censorship and data privacy, China’s access to massive data is a major advantage in AI development. While Western nations have security concerns, the UK’s Chancellor recently visited China to strengthen ties and explore economic cooperation, particularly in technology sectors.
Other European nations are also encouraging China to bring its advanced technologies, like battery tech, to Europe.
This growing influence of China in tech is not just an economic shift but a geopolitical one, raising questions about the West’s ability to keep up.
China’s push for innovation, particularly in AI like DeepSeek, signals a deep tremor in both technology and global power dynamics, according to BBC.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rq0vyd549o