Inside China's race to become an AI superpower

Over 60 years ago, in what is today southern Kazakhstan, the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite into Earth's orbit. The launch of Sputnik 1 provoked a panic in the United States that catalyzed a flurry of investment and research, which ultimately put man on the moon. China's Sputnik moment came in March 2016, when AlphaGo, an artificial intelligence program developed by Google's DeepMind, defeated South Korean Go master Lee Sedol. As The New York Times reported, AlphaGo's victory had a profound impact on politicians in China, one that spurred increased commitment to Beijing's effort to rule AI. In July 2017, China's State Council published an ambitious policy blueprint calling for the country to become "the world's primary AI innovation center" by 2030.