Two AI Futures Are Emerging
Two AI Futures Are Emerging; and they’re structurally different
An interesting way of viewing our (Collective. Global) AI maturity is one of not racing to the biggest and best-est model; rather the emergence of two distinct AI philosophies.
For example China is not necessarily trying to “win” the same AI game that The West is playing; it is building a different one.
“God in a Box” vs Applied “on the ground” AI
In the USA there is a persuasion to drive ever more powerful foundational “general” models (AGI = Artificial General Intelligence) and solve intelligence at a grand scale with a “new frontier” type of mindset.
Europe adds a more human centric lens; embedding ethical, safety & rights based thinking into model design.
China, by contrast, has shown less interest in speculative AGI narratives. Its emphasis is applied AI in areas such as manufacturing optimisation, healthcare triage, financial risk systems, urban management & intelligence as infrastructure.
The question is less about improving AGI and more about how it can improve national productivity this quarter.
Market led Governance Vs State orchestrated
The West’s regulatory position is tightening e.g EU AI Act though innovation still largely originates in private firms and emanates outward.
China inverts the above model and instead AI is treated as strategic infrastructure, coordinated at national level, aligned to industrial policy & embedded into long term planning. Oversight is strict yet so is deployment support (e.g what China did with its approach to EV car/ battery Dev)
Data and Social Adoption
Western societies exhibit privacy concerns > surveillance anxieties which can temper adoption speeds.
In China there is a greater “acceptance” of AI as a collective utility e.g something that improves logistics, transport, payments & State Services.
Perfection Vs Acceleration Pace
Western AI culture often prioritises refinement, safety layering & iterative improvement before scale.
China has historically embraced a fast follower approach (generally allowing large AI companies in the US & Europe to do the heavy lifting first) > rapid deployment, adaptation & then iteration through domestic innovation thereafter.
The Future
The West is often trying to build the most powerful brain Vs China is trying to build a national (AI) nervous system for State benefit. Only time will tell which approach will convert AI into on the ground economic ¥$advantage.
Note 1: Don’t take the above 100% literally. Clearly some “China” & “The West” AI user cases have elements of both philosophies in them; it’s more the overarching direction I’m reflecting.
Note 2: I read/ practice widely on AI hence cannot name all my sources. One portal I would like to credit though is that of the Asia Times.