China Threatens U.S. Primacy in Artificial Intelligence

It is a statement that has been broadcasted and heard around the world: China intends to be the global leader of artificial intelligence by 2030. The country is putting its money where its mouth is, officials and analysts say, and making investments in AI that could threaten the United States and erode Washington's advantages in the technology. "The Chinese Communist Party recognizes the transformational power of AI," Defense Secretary Mark Esper recently said during remarks at the Defense Department's AI Symposium and Exposition. Beijing views the technology as a critical component to its future military and industrial power, said the Pentagon's recently released "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2020" annual report to Congress. The country's "Next Generation AI Development Plan" details Beijing's strategy to employ commercial and military organizations to achieve major breakthroughs by 2025 and become the world leader by 2030, the report said.