Is China beating the US in AI development?

China is gradually showing its ability to compete at a high level in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

“The race for global leadership in AI is pushing [forward]. In the 80's (sic), the market was dominated by the US. And recently, China has become very present too,” Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research Science and Innovation, posted on Twitter.

Online Photo

China has been leading the US in patents with the general keyword "artificial intelligence" since 2013. Statistics from CB Insights show that China had 641 patents last year, while the US only had 130. The difference in number has grown rapidly from 76 in 2013 to 511 last year.

“In 2017, over 530 video surveillance patents and over 900 facial recognition patents were published in China. This continues to show China's commitment to Artificial Intelligence,” as Internet of Things expert Kyle Ellicott tweeted.

Screenshot from Twitter

On the other hand, the US has been leading China in the past five years in patents under the more specific term of "machine learning".

“As one AI researcher told me, it doesn’t matter whether a Chinese or an American makes a specific advance because any new knowledge can be built upon by other scientists,” wrote Tim Culpan, a Bloomberg columnist who writes about technology in Asia.

“What matters more is the goal and the implementation of technologies that are being developed. It comes down to who is using AI for the greater good, and who is using it for ill.”

Screenshot from Twitter

But Culpan also admitted that China's enormous population - which is roughly four times larger than that of the US - can be a great data source for feeding the machine-learning algorithms, thus breeding better AI products.

As seen by many, China is making progress in AI implementations to improve people’s everyday lives.

“From airports to jaywalking, facial recognition is a part of everyday life in China,” wrote Iain Brown, data scientist SAS Software, in a tweet.

Screenshot from Twitter

Wall after wall

The US has been very active in blocking Chinese tech companies from entering its market recently.

Huawei's Mate 10 smartphone has an AI chip in it that allows it to offer a smarter camera.

But the company's cooperation with AT&T to sell the phone in the US hit a wall.

Huawei's response to this incident was emotional, demonstrated when its mobile device manager made an off-script speech at this year's Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Many believe the US government is behind this move.

As noted by another Bloomberg columnist, Nisha Gopalan, the US Committee on Foreign Investment rejected Broadcom's takeover of Qualcomm because it was worried the deal would benefit Huawei.

And Huawei is not the only target. "The panel also nixed Ant Financial Services Group's bid for MoneyGram International Inc. because the Chinese state had a tiny holding in Jack Ma's company," Gopalan wrote in her article.

Data and chart from Bloomberg

The Americans will have to broaden the definition of "what constitutes national security" to cope with China's rise, she added.

But buying US companies is not the only way China obtains AI technology.

China has a "national team" of companies that are determined to develop their own AI tech.

Baidu is making cars run autonomously; Alibaba is building smart cities in China; Tencent is pouring money into providing an AI boost for hospitals, and iFlyTek's voice translation gadget works well with English.

And, more importantly, they are doing it with or without the US tech - and they don't want to lag behind any country in the world.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bradley Cooper rocked a Dr. J jacket from his courtside seat at Game 6. The A-list actor had a few more 76ers fans join him Thursday night for Philadelphia's playoff game against New York — about 2,000 more courtesy of ticket giveaways from Sixers ownership.

The Sixers' strategy heading into Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series was to keep Knicks fans out of Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night.

Team owners Josh Harris, David Blitzer and David Adelman and former minority owner Michael Rubin joined forces Wednesday to buy more than 2,000 tickets they handed out to people who serve the Philadelphia community.

Wells Fargo Center seemed more like Madison Square Garden South during the Knicks' 97-92 win in Game 4 on Sunday, prompting Sixers star Joel Embiid to express frustration about the home-court disadvantage.

On Tuesday, the Sixers won 112-106 in overtime in New York to cut their deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

After the 2,000-plus Game 6 tickets were bought in bulk, Rubin announced on social media they would be given to first responders, health care professionals and other Philadelphia-based organizations.

Ali Benner, a registered nurse at Penn Medicine, jumped on a mass email sent to hospital employees offering first-come, first-serve tickets. She got a free pair of seats in section 120 (behind one of the baskets) and attended the game with her boyfriend. Tickets in that section were being offered for about $1,000 for a pair on various secondary markets shortly before tipoff.

“I think I was just quick and lucky,” Benner said, wearing an Allen Iverson T-shirt.

Benner said she was probably going to watch Game 6 at a bar had she not received free tickets.

She said the New York takeover in Game 4 was “kind of sad” but credited Rubin and the Sixers for donating Game 6 tickets to Philadelphia-based organizations.

“I think it's pretty great,” she said. “Next week is Nurses' Appreciation week, so I think it's a really good way to kick it off and show some thanks to the healthcare workers.”

Dawn Staley, coach of the NCAA champion South Carolina women’s basketball team and a Philadelphia native, also asked fans to not sell their tickets to Knicks fans.

“We need everybody’s support, man,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said.

Game 4 last Sunday in Philadelphia had a decidedly Knicks sound down the stretch.

“The Philadelphia fanbase is, I said this before, they’re very relentless and very passionate. I mean, I’m an Eagles fan, I would know,” said Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who won two national championships playing collegiately for Villanova. “But seeing the Knicks here and hearing the Knicks here, it was pretty cool and it’s awesome.”

Not for Embiid, who had to hear Brunson get louder chants of “MVP! MVP!” than the guy who actually won the award last season.

“I love our fans but it was unfortunate. I’m not calling them out, but it is disappointing,” Embiid said, adding that he’s aware that Knicks fans often make the short train trip for the road games.

“But never seen it (like Sunday) and I’ve been here for 10 years. Yeah, kind of (ticks) me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town, so ... I don’t think that should happen. It’s not OK.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

New York Knicks fans cheer during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse reacts during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) reacts after a turnover during the second half of Game 5 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, looks to shoot against New York Knicks' Isaiah Hartenstein, right, during the first half of Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Actor Bradley Cooper watches warmsups ahead of Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)