Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, expressed his admiration for China's potential in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) during a video address at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.
He believes that China has the ability to excel in various sectors and emphasized its potential in AI development.
China's Strength in AI
Musk stated that China is capable of achieving greatness in any endeavor it sets its mind to, including the development of AI.
CNBC reports that the tech boss predicts that China will possess robust AI capabilities in the future. These remarks reflect Musk's positive view of the world's second-largest economy and its potential for growth and innovation.
Elon Musk and China Have Strong Ties
It's no doubt that Musk praises China with its excellent business skills given that it has strong ties with Beijing.
In particular, one of Tesla's major manufacturing facilities lies in the heart of Shanghai. It's been a stable place for EV production for Musk.
Musk also praised that Chinese automakers are very professional and competitive in their craft, stating China's achievements are worth-admiring.
"I think there's a tremendous number of very smart, very talented people in China. I've always been a tremendous admirer of the sheer amount of talent and drive that exists in China," Musk said.
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Will China Surpass US in AI Dominance?
As far as the current AI trend is concerned, China won't probably oust the US as a leader in the field of AI, according to a report by the Washington Post.
Musk's recent comments come amidst ongoing tensions between the United States and China in the tech industry.
The US implemented export restrictions on crucial chips and semiconductor equipment to China in 2022. Although these restrictions may pose challenges to China's efforts to enhance its domestic industry in critical technology, industry analysts believe that Chinese chip makers will still be able to develop advanced semiconductors independently.
While China has access to AI tools, some companies in the country struggle with less funding for AI development, Jeff Ding, assistant professor of political science at George Washington University, said.
Back in April, Tech Times reported that a Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) researcher Bao Yungang claimed that China's AI race lagged behind other countries because of the same reason: insufficient funding.
Another expert Liang Zheng, the current deputy head Tsinghua University's China tech policy research center said that Chinese firms missed a lot of AI-related opportunities because no one wants to invest in research.
To address the problem, Zhang suggested that Beijing should seek more support from other markets to start AI innovation.
