Artificial Intelligence in China: Strategies, Dynamics and Perspectives
Résumé
Artificial intelligence has become one of the policy priorities for Chinese authorities since 2013, the
year in which the Guiding Opinions of the State Council on Promoting the Orderly and Healthy
Development of the Internet of Things were issued. In order to push the strong development of AI in
China and to powerfully compete with the United States at the international level, China has elaborated
targeted and quantifiable long term national strategies, invested colossal public money into the sector,
and supported the growing up of national digital champions represented by the BATX (Baidu, Alibaba,
Tencent and Xiaomi). Important achievements have been made in terms of the industrial applications
of AI. Today, artificial intelligence is being applied in heathcare services, environmental protection,
public security, and national defense. Moreover, China is taking precedence over the United States in
the Sino-American competition over aritificial intelligence. Faced with the doubts of Europe, the United
States and Southeast Asian countries towards the allegedly imperialist intentions of geopolitical
domination of the Chinese government, I argue that solving internal problems is no less important than
using AI to seek the international leadership position for China. Rather than exclusively focusing on the
repressive nature of AI in China, it can be more constructive to create cooperation opportunities, so as
to unleash the untapped potential of AI for the benefits of more people.