More Americans think China is world leader in AI, new survey reveals

More than one-third of Americans see China, and not the United States, as the global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI), according to a Pew Research Centre survey released on Thursday, as US President Donald Trump confirmed the technology would be on the agenda when his Chinese counterpart visits the US later this year.The survey found that 36 per cent of Americans believe China is more advanced than the United States in developing Artificial Intelligence. By comparison, only 12 per cent say the US is leading the AI race, while 18 per cent view the two countries as equally advanced. Another 33 per cent were unsure which nation is ahead.The perception also cut across party lines, with 30 per cent of Republicans and 43 per cent of Democrats saying China is ahead of the US in AI advancement. Republicans, however, were more likely than Democrats to view the US as the leader, with 17 per cent holding that view compared with nine per cent of Democrats.The findings come against the backdrop of an accelerating AI race between Washington and Beijing, underscoring anxieties in the US that China is quickly eroding America’s technological edge by leveraging the capabilities of its top companies and accessing restricted access to advanced semiconductor chips.Trump touted the US’ lead over China in AI in Washington on Thursday, saying “whoever wins that race is probably going to win. Period” as he discussed America’s goal to “dominate the future” and confirmed AI would be on the agenda when he next meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping.