The Future of A.I. Is (Probably) Chinese

The Sino-American relationship has been quite a roller coaster this year, courtesy of the belligerent occupant of the White House. With its technical and operational superiority in 5G mobile networks (the vital infrastructure for technologies like A.I. and the Internet of Things), Huawei might be an avatar for China itself: ambitious, future-focused, and a serious threat to U.S. exceptionalism. The deluge of American complaints about Huawei being a national security risk (due to its links to the Chinese state) should be recognized for what it is: cover for the United States to engage in economic warfare, throwing its significant weight around to help ensure Huawei is blacklisted across the globe. The desperation of the U.S. efforts reflects a cold truth about the international competition in technology, and A.I. in particular: China is opening up a lead. Following their public commitment in 2017 to develop world leadership in A.I. by 2030, China has backed up its strategy with several billion dollars' worth of funding and a cohesive bureaucratic effort to manage the plan's execution.