Great powers: Competition and cooperation in age of AI

Deepline

2025.05.08 16:39

By Chen Bohui

In early 2025, DeepSeek, launched by a Chinese AI startup, rapidly gained popularity, topping the free app download charts in both the Chinese and U.S. Apple App Stores and even surpassing OpenAI's ChatGPT at one point, demonstrating strong market competitiveness. Its success drew widespread attention, with figures such as U.S. President Donald Trump and OpenAI's CEO acknowledging its disruptive impact on the AI industry. The New York Times even praised DeepSeek as comparable to ChatGPT, calling this alone "a milestone."

This phenomenon not only highlights the rapid advancement of China's AI technology but also underscores the necessity of strengthened U.S.-China collaboration in artificial intelligence. AI has become a key driver of global technological transformation, and as the world's two most influential tech powers, the U.S. and China have both competitive and cooperative dynamics in this field. From AI training and governance to real-world applications, cooperation between the two nations can accelerate technological innovation while shaping global economic and social development.

Where data meets innovation

The development of AI relies on massive datasets for training and optimization. With its population of 1.4 billion, China possesses one of the world's largest single-language data pools, providing rich linguistic resources for large-scale model training. As early as 2018, a report by the U.S. National Science Foundation noted that China had surpassed the U.S. in total scientific publications, becoming the global leader in research output—a testament to its growing strength in data generation and accumulation. However, the value of data lies not just in scale but also in diversity and quality. U.S.-China collaboration could combine China's vast data resources with America's computing power to make AI training more efficient and precise.

In terms of innovation, China's Global Innovation Index has steadily risen in recent years.

According to the 2022 Global Innovation Index by the World Intellectual Property Organization, China ranked 11th globally, marking a decade of continuous growth. Meanwhile, the U.S. maintains a leading position in fundamental research, semiconductor manufacturing, and cutting-edge AI model development. Collaboration in AI training could not only drive technological breakthroughs but also spark new ideas.

For instance, in emerging fields like quantum computing-AI integration and neuroscience-AI convergence, U.S.-China cooperation could unlock groundbreaking advancements, opening new possibilities for global tech progress.

Shared responsibility for ethics and safety

The rapid rise of AI also brings governance challenges, including ethical dilemmas, privacy concerns, and security risks. Widespread AI adoption may exacerbate issues like data leaks and algorithmic bias, which, if mishandled, could harm social stability and human well-being. As global tech leaders, the U.S. and China bear a crucial responsibility in shaping AI ethics and regulations. By working together, they can promote responsible AI development, establish governance frameworks aligned with global interests, and ensure AI is applied fairly, justly, and safely.

Moreover, the militarization of AI has become a pressing global issue. The development of autonomous weapon systems and AI-driven warfare poses new threats to international security. U.S.-China collaboration should not only advance technology but also establish international oversight mechanisms to prevent AI misuse in military conflicts and avert a new arms race. Both nations should champion the principle of "AI for good," ensuring it serves as a tool for peace and societal progress rather than a catalyst for war.

Bridging technology & humanity

The ultimate goal of AI is to enhance the quality of life and productivity. China's extensive AI applications—from smart cities and healthcare to advanced manufacturing and education—provide valuable real-world case studies. Meanwhile, the U.S. leads in high-end AI algorithms, semiconductor production, and cloud computing. Together, the two nations can drive deeper AI integration into industries and governance, boosting global economic growth. For example, in healthcare, AI can enable earlier disease detection and personalized treatments; in education, it can tailor learning paths to individual needs, promoting equity.

AI's role in manufacturing is equally critical. As the world's manufacturing hub, China has the most comprehensive industrial supply chains, while AI-powered smart factories, industrial robots, and supply chain optimization can drastically improve efficiency and product quality. U.S.-China collaboration in this sector could merge American R&D strengths with China's manufacturing scale, accelerating the transition to Industry 4.0 and creating high-value jobs worldwide.

Collaboration for a shared future

The AI era is defined by both competition and cooperation. DeepSeek's success not only signals the rise of China's AI sector but also heralds a new phase of global AI competition intertwined with collaboration. In this context, U.S.-China cooperation is not just inevitable for technological progress—it is essential for global stability. By deepening partnerships, the two nations can maximize their complementary strengths in data and innovation, jointly establish ethical and safety standards for AI, and promote its responsible deployment in key fields like manufacturing, healthcare, and education, fostering inclusive global growth.

Building on mutual trust and shared interests, the U.S. and China must strengthen AI collaboration to lead the future of global innovation. This is not just about technology—it's about shaping a better world for all. The development of AI should benefit humanity, creating a smarter and more prosperous future.

The author is the President of the Asian Academy of Digital Economics.

(English Editor: Darius)

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